Dez Bryant would have signed with the Saints after being cut by Cowboys in April



[ad_1]

Dez Bryant will sign a one-year contract with the Saints days after working for the team, reports NFL.comIan Rapoport. Bryant joins a New Orleans team that is 7-1 and at the top of the division, featuring one of the league's most powerful infractions that includes Drew Brees, Mark Ingram, Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas. but lacked a regular catcher # 2.

NOLA.comJeff Duncan reports that Bryant is expected to travel to New Orleans on Thursday, and ESPNAdam Schefter adds that Bryant has signed a one – year contract to prove his lead over free will in the spring.

The Cowboys released Bryant in April after eight seasons, in part because its limit set for 2018 was $ 16.5 million and partly because it no longer produced as one of the best receivers of the NFL. It is better suited to the New Orleans system, where it will not be the primary target – not even secondary or tertiary – but a cog that is an offense that can beat you in many ways.

At the time of his release, Bryant was naturally unhappy with the decision. And after the first week of the season, Bryant went to Twitter to say that he would love to play for the Redskins or the Patriots. The Redskins signed Michael Floyd and Breshad Perriman, and the Patriots traded against Josh Gordon.

In early October, Bryant posted on social media a video showing him doing some exercise. And in response to a question he was asked on Twitter, Bryant said he was back in the Cowboys, but "otherwise I'll be ready to play somewhere else"It took about a month, but" elsewhere "seems to be New Orleans, where he goes from unemployed to a member of one of the NFL's most prominent teams.

More NFL

Bryant adds depth to a unit that includes world drummer Michael Thomas and has seen more targets for the rookie Tre "Quan Smith, who saw an increased role when Ted Ginn was injured. But Bryant is not – and has never been – a burner. It is not a receiver to take on top of the cover, but it can make contested catch and dominate on short and intermediate routes.

Or, like Andy Benoit from TheMMQB.com put it on Twitter: "All (the Saints) have done is replace a wide, slow receiver (Cameron Meredith) with a wide and slightly slower receiver (Dez Bryant)."

Regularly cited as one of the league's best receivers for much of his career, Bryant has blamed injuries on a predictable offensive match plan for his 2017 pedestrian season (69 catches, 838 yards, six touchdowns). The previous year, when the Cowboys had 13-3, it was better; According to Football Outsiders, he was ranked 31st in total value among all the underdogs in 2016. He played only 13 games and collected 50 catches for 796 yards and eight touchdowns. In '17, Bryant dropped to 72nd, just ahead of teammate Cole Beasley, who was counting $ 4.5 million against the cap in 2017, compared to Bryant's figure of $ 17 million.

When asked Wednesday whether Bryant was joining the Saints, Cowboys coach Jason Garrett spoke loudly of his former player.

"Dez is a great player," he said via the Fort Worth Star-TelegramClarence Hill Jr. "Very happy for him and for this opportunity.I know that he will help their team.I am happy for Dez.Lucky that he has the chance to finish his career as he sees fit and 39, have a significant impact "

Shortly after his release, Bryant reportedly refused a $ 21 million three-year contract with the Ravens this spring and would have done the same when the Browns offered him less than $ 5 million a year. There was also the question of Bryant wanting to play for a better team, according to PFT. And now it seems that he has finally realized his wish.

And in three weeks, the Saints – and Bryant – go to Dallas to face the Cowboys Thursday Football.

[ad_2]
Source link