Everything is bigger in Texas, even the insignificant.
Dallas Cowboys rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant deciding to buck the training camp tradition of rookies carry veterans pads is just the latest episode in the media’s strange fascination with labeling Bryant as a diva.
The debate sparked over the validity many NFL rites of passage raises interesting questions about the place of traditions in our society and the racial undertones of a Black professional athlete choosing to speak up against anything.
Since his collegiate career came to an abrupt and unceremonious end after the NCAA ruled him ineligible for lying to investigators about a personal relationship with Deion Sanders, one in which he didn’t take money or receive gifts, just worked with a future Hall of Famer, who has routinely taken talented players under his wing for personal and professional mentoring, Bryant has been squarely in the sports media crosshairs.
That’s when sports media pundits began selling Bryant to us as a selfish player that put himself above his team, even though they had no real proof of that other than him being admittedly late to team meetings from time to time, and fans ate it up.
Bryant was beginning to see the backlash of being great. Had it not been for the increased media attention for his standout play at Oklahoma State, would he have even known Deion Sanders? Would anybody have cared about their relationship? I doubt it.
The media circus continued during the pre-draft process when it was reported that Miami Dolphins representatives asked if his mother was a prostitute. The incident could have turned Bryant into a sympathetic figure but did little more than make people debate whether or not a ridiculous question was relevant to gauging a prospect’s character.
That’s when fans voiced loudly that the prospect of Bryant making millions of dollars waived any sort of professional tact and some even argued that it was the team’s right to ask these questions of this nature before investing in someone. Understandable but completely ridiculous.
Fast forward to his refusal to carry Cowboys veteran wide receiver Roy Williams’ pads after his first practice and here you see the media do what it does best, sell us controversy.
Two things made this story a big deal: The lack of other news and the opportunity to pit Williams and Bryant against one another. Nothing else was going on. Bryant was the first 2010 1st Round pick to sign with his team and the Cowboys were the first NFL team to start training camp which meant all eyes were on them Day 1. Bryant came in with a focus you’d hope for from any rookie, an understanding of what it meant to be apart of such a storied franchise and the unique opportunity they had to win immediately in Dallas.
The fact that it was Roy Williams, who has also called the situation a non-issue, only made things juicier. Williams knows that Bryant was drafted to essentially be his replacement. He also knows there was more than one chip on Bryant’s shoulder to prove a point. Had the request come more respectfully from another source, it’s worth wondering would the outcome have been different. It was admirable that Bryant said the situation wouldn’t be different if he was an undrafted free agent either.
Bryant claiming he didn’t know about the tradition seems false but what isn’t was his reasoning for not doing so. That’s not what he’s there for.
Few things infuriate fans like a kid who’s lived half as long, making 100 times as much, refusing to do something so trivial. They ignore a grown man’s right to say no and feel like a game check buy should buy his silence and subordination but imagine walking into a professional environment and being treated like a glorified intern. Someone with the same title as you making you refill their coffee or make their copies just because you were new. It wouldn’t fly, so why should it in football. The idea that ‘it’s just what you do’ is ridiculous.
Sure, it’s lighthearted and even on the amateur level it’s a time honored tradition but what affect does it have on your team winning games. You can argue it endears him to his teammates and increased team morale can’t hurt his team, all true but really, what does it really prove? Light hazing doesn’t convert third downs, just because it’s tradition doesn’t mean it’s right.
Just carry the pads and shut up seems to be the prevailing sentiment and I don’t necessarily disagree with that but begs the question, what would you rather have?
A rookie who carries everybody’s pads, buys all your meals and just wants to be liked by everyone but isn’t ready to contribute to the football team on the field or a rookie who respectfully declines to participate in traditions but is ready to make you a better football team where it matters? People complain all the time about professional athletes not being able to make the transition from college to the pros but when a rookie does come in, treats it like business, takes his job seriously, look what happens.
Former Cowboys wide receiver and NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, who gave Bryant his blessing to wear his famed #88, applauded his competitive spirit Wednesday on NFL Network. He argued in favor of his attitude and his moxie being something a much the Cowboys needed and downplayed the significance of the story. Marshall Faulk, passionately playing devil’s advocate, only furthered the opinion that he wasn’t being a team player by not standing by for hazing. Not mentioning the fact that Bryant was the first person on the field and last one to leave his first day in camp and has thus far wowed people with his versatility and willingness to work.
Dez Bryant is a kid who’s trying to do everything right and seemingly can’t win for losing. Even when he comes in with a focus and determination to be better and make his team better, few are taking those strives as more than a positive PR push when it’s obvious that his primary motivation is winning. PadGate is a non-issue the media is using to kill time until the other teams and players report to camp but they’re further demonizing of Bryant in the process. That’s not fair to him.
“I’ve been doing the right thing, I’m gonna continue to do the right thing. We are trying to do something real special here, we’re going to continue to keep trying to do that,” said Bryant when asked about it while signing autographs, and trust me, pads won’t prevent him from doing that.