Cowboys' Bryant opens up on struggles nixes idea of pay cut
Dez Bryant
FILE - In this Dec. 17   2017  file photo  Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88)  runs against the Oakland Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game in Oakland   Calif. Bryant  opened up in  his  first lengthy session with reporters in weeks  taking responsibility for a subpar season by saying  he  let frustrations affect  him  during games. But  he  also said some of those frustrations were rooted in the offensive scheme  which  he  said  he  would probably address with owner Jerry Jones and coaches in the offseason. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg  File) (Photo: The Associated Press)
FRISCO  Texas (AP) —  Dez Bryant  didn't seem sure how to respond when asked if  he  would be willing to take a pay cut after perhaps the most difficult season of the Dallas receiver's career.
Once the 2014 All-Pro came to  his  senses   he  was emphatic.
"Hell no  man "  Bryant  said Wednesday  three days after the Cowboys were eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to Seattle. "I believe in me."
 Bryant  opened up in  his  first lengthy session with reporters in weeks  taking responsibility for a subpar season by saying  he  let frustrations affect  him  during games. But  he  also said some of those frustrations were rooted in the offensive scheme  which  he  said  he  would probably address with owner Jerry Jones and coaches in the offseason.
The eighth-year pro also blamed some of  his  struggles on knee tendinitis  something that hadn't been revealed.  Bryant  was listed on the injury report for three weeks earlier in the season  including one week when  he  missed two practices when an ankle injury also was listed.
But  Bryant  didn't miss any games  and is on the verge of going all 16 without a 100-yard outing for the first time in  his  career unless  he  sits for a meaningless finale Sunday at Philadelphia. In  his  second season in 2011   Bryant  didn't reach 100 yards in 15 games  missing one for injury.
"I consider  myself  a warrior "  Bryant  said. "If I can walk  I can move  I'm going to go out there and try to play. That's probably dumb  but hey  that's just who I am. I love this game  and I try to push it  but for the most part  yeah  I have been pretty banged up."
Injuries are part of the reason  Bryant  hasn't lived up to the $70 million  five-year contract  he  signed after  his  All-Pro season.  He  had career lows across the board in 2015 because of foot and ankle issues that kept  him  out of seven games.
A knee injury knocked  him  out of three games last year  but  he  was productive otherwise and capped the season with 132 yards and two touchdowns in the top-seeded Cowboys' playoff loss to Green Bay.
In the three years before the big contract   Bryant  averaged 91 catches  1 312 yards and 14 touchdowns per season. With a game  he  might not play remaining  the averages in the three years since are 49 catches  671 yards and six TDs.
"I'm a grown man  and I should be able to sit there and have my frustrations in check  regardless of whatever the situation might be "  Bryant  said. "All I know is if my mind's not cluttered  I can beat whoever  whenever  anybody at any time. It's just sometimes I let certain things get to me that I shouldn't."
Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan brushed off  Bryant 's comments about the scheme  saying it's the same one Dallas used on a franchise-record 11-game winning streak last season during the sensational rookie years for quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott.
 Bryant  has by far the most targets on the team with 124  but has connected with Prescott just 53 percent of the time (66 catches). Again   Bryant  pointed to the staff  which didn't seem to bother coach Jason Garrett.
The Cowboys could save $12.5 million in cap room by designating Bryant as a post-June 1 cut. While  Bryant  dismissed as "dumb" a question about whether  he  wanted to remain with Dallas   he  didn't ignore the idea of ending up elsewhere.
"If that came about  I'm still  Dez Bryant  "  he  said. "I'm still going over the top. If it's there where I can grab it  I'm going to grab it. That's just who I am."
FILE - In this Dec. 17   2017  file photo  [TGT]runs against the Oakland Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game in Oakland   [TGT]opened up in  [TGT]  first lengthy session with reporters in weeks  taking responsibility for a subpar season by saying  [TGT]  let frustrations affect  [TGT]  during games. But  [TGT]  also said some of those frustrations were rooted in the offensive scheme  which  [TGT]  said  [TGT]  would probably address with owner Jerry Jones and coaches in the offseason. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg  File) (Photo: The Associated Press)
FRISCO  Texas (AP) —  [TGT]didn't seem sure how to respond when asked if [TGT][TGT]  would be willing to take a pay cut after perhaps the most difficult season of the Dallas receiver's career.
Once the 2014 All-Pro came to  his  senses   he  was emphatic.
"Hell no  man [TGT]said Wednesday  three days after the Cowboys were eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to Seattle. "I believe in [TGT].[TGT]opened up in  [TGT]  first lengthy session with reporters in weeks  taking responsibility for a subpar season by saying  [TGT]  let frustrations affect  [TGT]  during games. But  [TGT]  also said some of those frustrations were rooted in the offensive scheme  which  [TGT]  said  [TGT]  would probably address with owner Jerry Jones and coaches in the offseason.
The eighth-year pro also blamed some of  his  struggles on knee tendinitis  something that hadn't been revealed.  [TGT]was listed on the injury report for three weeks earlier in the season  including one week when  [TGT]  missed two practices when an ankle injury also was listed.
But  [TGT]didn't miss any games  and is on the verge of going all 16 without a 100-yard outing for the first time in  [TGT]  career unless  [TGT]  sits for a meaningless finale Sunday at Philadelphia. In  his  second season in 2011   [TGT]didn't reach 100 yards in 15 games  missing one for injury.
"I consider  myself  a warrior "  [TGT]said. "If I can walk  I can move  I'm going to go out there and try to play. That's probably dumb  but hey  that's just who I am. I love this game  and I try to push it  but for the most part  yeah  I have been pretty banged up."
Injuries are part of the reason  [TGT]hasn't lived up to the $70 million  five-year contract  [TGT]  signed after  [TGT]  All-Pro season.  [TGT]  had career lows across the board in 2015 because of foot and ankle issues that kept  [TGT]  out of seven games.
A knee injury knocked  [TGT]  out of three games last year  but  [TGT]  was productive otherwise and capped the season with 132 yards and two touchdowns in the top-seeded Cowboys' playoff loss to Green Bay.
In the three years before the big contract   [TGT]averaged 91 catches  1 312 yards and 14 touchdowns per season. With a game  [TGT]  might not play remaining  the averages in the three years since are 49 catches  671 yards and six TDs.
"I'm a grown man  and I should be able to sit there and have my frustrations in check  regardless of whatever the situation might be "  [TGT]said. "All I know is if my mind's not cluttered  I can beat whoever  whenever  anybody at any time. It's just sometimes I let certain things get to me that I shouldn't."
Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan brushed off  Bryant 's comments about the scheme  saying it's the same one Dallas used on a franchise-record 11-game winning streak last season during the sensational rookie years for quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott.
 [TGT]has by far the most targets on the team with 124  but has connected with Prescott just 53 percent of the time (66 catches). Again   [TGT]pointed to the staff  which didn't seem to bother coach Jason Garrett.
The Cowboys could save $12.5 million in cap room by designating Bryant as a post-June 1 cut. While  [TGT]dismissed as "dumb" a question about whether  he  wanted to remain with Dallas   he  didn't ignore the idea of ending up elsewhere.
"If that came about  I'm still  Dez Bryant  "  he  said. "I'm still going over the top. If it's there where I can grab it  I'm going to grab it. That's just who I am."