Dez Bryant may have said more than he intended when discussing his role on special teams recently.
For as long as we can remember, Dallas has tried to avoid the idea that Jerry Jones has any real control over the Cowboys’ on-field operations. This has been a hard-fought battle for the team, as Jones loves publicity, loves microphones near his mouth, loves talking Cowboys football whether or not he has any real control over it or not.
Whether he does have any real control over the goings-on on the field, we don’t know, but judging by Bryant’s aforementioned comments, it sure sounds like he does.
“I love doing it,” Bryant said of returning punts, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “I just felt like, ‘Things happen,’ and I feet like punt return, I love it a lot. I feel like any moment, I can make a big splash on it. But it’s whatever Mr. Jones wants. He doesn’t want me doing it? I’d be sad. I’d love to continue doing it. But hey, he makes the calls.”
We won’t debate whether Bryant should continue returning punts, not here anyway. But it is interesting that Bryant said that Jones “makes the calls,” rather than Jason Garrett or, to a lesser degree (receivers coach) Jimmy Robinson or (special teams coordinator) Joe DeCamillis. It’s whatever Mr. Jones wants.
People have seemingly always thought Jones had more control over the Cowboys than he should. Judging by the team’s handling of this situation, that perception won’t change anytime soon.
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