What you call arrogance, some would call confidence in his ability.
I know that I have some sympathy for him because I believe the main difference between Bryant and a player like Reggie Bush is that Bryant got caught.
You question his character. I don’t know him. Do you? Zac Robinson and Russell Okung describe him as great team-mate.
“He didn't work out at the combine”. Obviously, you don’t believe Bryant had a hamstring injury. He lied once so he probably lied again. Right?
Funny that you bring up Bradford. Bradford did not work out at the combine. As far as I know, Bradford never did any drill beside threw the football at his pro day. What about all those important drills that Bradford skipped? If Bryant just ran the 40, ran routes and caught the football, I doubt he would be getting all this grief.
I believe he tried to do too much in one day. You are correct there was a tremendous amount of pressure for Bryant to perform. Mortals, unlike yourself, make mistakes and get frustrated.
again, if you were evaluating prospects, IN GENERAL, would you think it was a good or a bad thing if they quit on drills during their pro day?there have been red flags and warnings before, as noted above (drinen)... also at the workout... mayock was very high on his talent and athletic ability, and said there were red flags. casserly (also noted above), who ironically took mario williams over bush, questioned why he didn't know how to do the cone drills, and appeared to quit... casserly also mentioned how there were a few other players that missed last year, and had fine workouts, appeared to be in shape and prepared, etc. weren't they under pressure, too?
no player is completely good or bad... i cited some good things in an earlier post... mayock called him the best WR prospect he had ever seen in '08 (presumably over moss, dre johnson, fitz & calvin)... maybe on a faster track he would have cracked 4.5 and gotten into the 4.4s... his situation reminds me of hakeem nicks (the quotes from his pro day were eerily similar), and he turned out great.
but in a balanced appraisal, it is important to cite the negatives, too. quitting isn't a positive... why do feel the need to defend him on such an obvious negative? you asked a rhetorical question about whether i know him... i could ask you the same thing... how do you know he doesn't get frustrated and quit easily... how do you know he isn't a blamer, and could be more accountable. front offices and coaching staffs are only mortal, too, and have to judge him by what he actually does and says, not what he didn't do. maybe some front offices will think like you, and say to themselves... "maybe he was under a lot of pressure, got frustrated and tried to do too much, so we forgive his quitting."
nobody questions that he is a physical specimen, athletic and talented... is it really shocking to you that people are questioning his intangibles and work ethic... what do you expect, for him to get praise or sympathy for quitting?
i can't think of a lot of other college prospects now or former ones that went on to have long and distinguished careers, that were infamous for quitting on drills in their pro day workout.
if he doesn't deal with pressure well, do you think he will be under any less pressure in the NFL.
as for bradford, the biggest question he had to answer was the health of his shoulder... the scouts and coaches that were there called it one of the best displays they had seen ... if bryant was a QB, he could have thrown 63 passes and called it a day... it probably didn't escape you attention that nobody called bradford a quitter, and his workout has received nearly universal praise... conversely, almost everybody who looked at bryant's workout said there were red flags, and in a lot of cases, it was observed he quit.
if bradford had walked off the field with 10-20 more throws left (scouts were given a script of what to expect), and said... i am just under too much pressure, and tried to do too much, so i'm going to quit now...", you think he wouldn't have been perceived differently? seriously?
* of course, bryant didn't cite pressure or doing too much as excuses, or admit to quitting (that i know of)... those are your explanations/excuses... if you were his excuse script writer, and that IS what he said after walking off, would that in your opinion make it more OK and justifiable with NFL types? "you know dez, we were kind of alarmed and disturbed that you quit in drills, and think it reflects poorly on your maturity, character and judgement... but since it was because you were under pressure and tried to do too much, all is forgiven!"
not sure what you meant by too much? as casserly noted, other prospects, even ones that missed last year and coming out of rehab (doesn't describe bryant) were in shape and did theirs just fine. presumably they were under pressure, too. making mistakes in drills is more acceptable than quitting.
i already said above i still see him getting drafted highly... it only takes one team, and no doubt several will take a chance on his admittedly impressive physical traits, etc. he could go around 10-15... i would be surprised if DEN takes him, though a majority of mocks pencil him in there... maybe he will go in 1st half of round one... but he could have cost himself some money... i expect him to go in the second half somewhere (#17 is in second half, but closer to mid-1st)... i would draft him in fantasy leagues. but if i were a front office that signed him, i would want to look very closely (background checks) at his maturity, character, judgement and accountability. if i thought he was being less than truthful in interviews, and untrustworthy, that would be a serious red flag, and would most likely pass... there are other talented players in the draft, too, that may not have as many attendant red flags.
maybe he is like TO, and that turned out pretty good... TO is not very mature, questionable judgement & FAR from accountable. he is a blamer, and a headache, and a nightmare to some of his teammates (though others profess to like him). as to his character, he has never done anything criminal to my knowledge, and should be commended for that. it is possible to have a questionable constellation of personality traits, and still not be a thug. if TO could be made 21 again and avail in draft, no doubt he would go very high, teammate friction and at times whiney tool factor aside... but TO has an exceptional work ethic, and by all accounts, has for much of his career. if he didn't, he might not be the player he is. and if bryant has issues here, he might not end up being the kind of player he could be.
** i was fast and loose with what bryant said... in general, if i am trying to be verbatim, i will copy and paste, and use quotes... i INTERPRETED his saying it was too much as a lack of accountability... comparing himself to moss = teams will regret not taking him (ie - stupid).
this just seems unnecessary... what does he think... across the league, front offices will be scrambling to form dez bryant threat assessment teams... "well, we really need a OT with our pick in the top 15, but since dez says he is going to kill and murder other teams if they pass on him like moss did, i guess we have to take him instead?"
Not even close from a talent perspective.
at those who think Dez is some once in a lifetime talent. He's a knucklehead without a good work ethic who has marginal measurables.
allas Cowboys (I.e., Jerry Jones approved) and their 'partners' convince Dez to semi-flop his pro day to fall somewhat in the draft in order for the 'Boys to be within range of acquiring him (either via a move up a few picks or other). How is this appealing to Dez since he would then be risking losing major guaranteed $$$? Well, first and foremost, he is a local product (from Texas, not sure if its Dallas or not) and I'm sure hed love to play for the Cowboys. Second, the Deion connection with the Cowboys and (local) Dallas community, with Deion being a big influence in his life. This particular point should not be overlooked. As far as conspiracy theories go, I don't buy into them, and this is pure speculation on my part..........But????
