NFL Films microphones have at times caught Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant sounding like something less than an ideal teammate, with sideline tantrums and complaints about play calling. But that wasn’t the case on Sunday.
As shown on Inside the NFL, Bryant was his teammates’ biggest cheerleader in Sunday night’s win over the Saints. And although Bryant didn’t have a lot of balls thrown his way -- he ended the game with three catches for 44 yards, and three other passes thrown to him were incomplete -- he made a point of approaching offensive coordinator Scott Linehan at the end of the game.
Linehan told Bryant, “This was an awesome game.”
Bryant responded, “It was, coach, and I appreciate it, man. I appreciate it because I know there’s more to come.”
The positive vibes from Bryant started during pregame warmups, when he made a point of going around to each wide receiver on the team and offering encouraging words like, “Let’s dominate today” and “It’s our show.” After Terrance Williams caught a touchdown pass, Bryant approached him to say, “That’s big time. Keep killing it, bro.”
Bryant seemed happiest when his downfield block sprung DeMarco Murray for a touchdown. As the replay of the Murray touchdown was shown on the enormous Jerry World Jumbotron, Bryant excitedly pointed to his teammates that he had thrown a good block.
“I told you I’d get you one!” Bryant told Murray. “Keep showing you’re the best running back in the league.”
Murray has looked like the best running back in the league this year, and the Cowboys have been a run-first team. It may surprise some to learn that Bryant is fine with that.