Why is Dez Bryant getting stronger with the Dallas Cowboys?

Dez Bryant has been a free agent since the Dallas Cowboys released him in April. Bryant has been out of the news most of the time since, except when he refused a multi-year bid from the Baltimore Ravens. First of all, the Cleveland Browns publicly acknowledged that they had had discussions about adding a veteran receiver – a pair that might seem like a joke, but who in does a lot. meaning. Then, interest seemed to rise on Friday, when Ian Rapoport and Mary Kay Cabot both reported that both parties could meet, and potentially get an agreement, soon.

Shortly after, Bryant made waves, but that had nothing to do with a new team. On the contrary, it had to do with his former team, the one he had played since he had drafted in the first round in 2010.

Because nothing marks the return of football as a Twitter beef, let's review what happened:

Dez Bryant is offended by a quote from Cowboys leader Stephen Jones

Friday, Stephen Jones, executive vice president of Cowboys, was interviewed by Sirius XM NFL Radio on the coming season and more particularly on the quarter of third year. The Sirius XM NFL Radio Twitter account quoted Jones in a tweet since deleted. Bryant replied in a tweet again :

Courtesy of Blogging the Boys:

Blogging the Boys

Bryant's critique of play-calling – not a rare complaint among Cowboy fans – is directed to offensive coordinator Scott Linehan.

The complete quote from Jones, with the pbading line on Bryant (and former opponent Jason Witten) is here:

Jones developed his thoughts after the practice of the Cowboys on Friday: [19659013] "You have great players like Dez and Witten – they want the ball, everyone sees it, it's in every team," he said. "The big players, the big receivers, the guys who catch the ball, want the ball, they tell their quarterbacks that sometimes, I was quarterback, I understand that."

Bryant hinted that center Travis Frederick and linebacker Sean Lee were involved in his release from the team.

He had more bite reserved to Lee:

This is not the first time Bryant has suggested that some of his teammates – he named them "Garrett" "I will not put names, but they know it and I want them to know it," Bryant told Jane Slater of NFL Network after her release . . "I'm going to send them a text message and let them know." Little do they know, you know, they can wear what's all they want, but in that locker room … they know who they are communicating with, everyone knows where the true love is, I will not throw anyone under the bus, but it's the difference between me and them. "

Frederick and Lee denied having anything see with the release of Bryant

The two veterans said that no one had consulted them … cowboys to cut ties with Bryant.

Frederick said that he had no contribution to the decision and felt that Bryant was a teammate, via DallasCowboys.com:

"I think I've really been on the record saying that I thought Dez was a great teammate. I would have argued that he was one of the best teammates I've had, "said Frederick." It's a guy who has taught me a lot. " I'm not sure where he comes from. "

Lee, a team captain, admitted that the two did not always see each other:

" First thing: say I can take off somebody " 39 a team and have comments on the alignment is nonsense, "said Lee." Second thing: I love Dez and I want the best for him. To be honest, we did the butt, because I wanted Dez to be more responsible to this team and his teammates. And to be honest with you, a lot of the team felt that. I think that he needs to look at himself and take responsibility. "

But Bryant still loves the Cowboys – and Jerry Jones

Bryant promised that he had no ill will against the team:

And he gave a quick kick to Prescott, back Ekeziel Elliott, and wide receivers Cole Beasley and Terrance Williams:

Bryant has always had a special relationship with team owner Jerry Jones, and "

" Dez and I share a very strong personal and professional relationship, and he is one of the few players with whom I have become close to during Last 30 years, "said Jones after Bryant's release.

Bryant still holds Jones up Look:

But Bryant is frustrated by what he sees as the Cowboys blame him for their struggles in 2017

Jane Slater spoke to Bryant and said that unlike to what things looked like, Bryant was not angry. He was fed up with the way he felt the Cowboys represented him:

It's clear from his tweets that Bryant felt disrespectful:

And he may have started a new meme in the process – or at least, "mister is going to work and quit Twitter" should be the next big meme:

Bryant AND the Cowboys reg resso in 2017

The Cowboys have taken a step back in 2017, especially offensively. Elliott was suspended for six games, and the team went from 13-3 and a No. 1 seed to 9-7 and missed the playoffs.

Bryant played all 16 last season, for the first time since 2014. He also led the team in receiving (69), receiving (838) and receiving touchdowns (six). But none of these statistics is spectacular, and they are far from its 2012-14 peak, while it averaged over 1,300 yards per season and double-digit touchdowns.

There is also this:

And it is true that the Dak-Dez pairing did not work for the Cowboys. In April, Thomas George for SB Nation said that a Cowboys source had told him that they did not have the impression that Bryant was helping Prescott to become a quarterback:

Although sure, Dez Bryant is no longer a Cowboy because his salary is too high. Because his production had plummeted. Because he's 30 years old this year and age and injuries were factors. Because his "distractions" and emotional outbursts in the games, in the locker room and beyond became boring.

This, however, can not be denied – the Cowboys have concluded that Dez does not work for Dak. Bryant wants to prove that he was not washed – and that the Cowboys were wrong

After his release, Bryant said that he would like to play for another team from the NFC East so that he may have a chance to play against the Cowboys. This seems unlikely, although Slater said that an unnamed team – not the Browns – was interested in Bryant and was not put off because of his tweets .

But by refusing the Ravens' offer, Bryant said that he wanted a one-year contract to prove that he is still the player that he was when "Have you caught it?" Became a proverb. A team will sign it, and probably very soon.

We will just have to wait to see if it 's still there, and if the Dallas attack can bounce back.

Bryant obviously does not count on it.