Sudden end to Dez Bryant's shooting with Saints

Dez Bryant had spent the first nine weeks of the NFL season doing a few things.

In conclusion, the Dallas Cowboys, after eight seasons and 75 touchdowns, did not want it anymore. "It's something that I had to accept," he said.

Then comes the NFL does not really knock on its door to claim it, while remaining in the kind of shape that allows a possible return. "Do my normal routines, do my workouts," he said.

And, finally, watch a lot of football because throughout the volatile life and career of soap opera Dez Bryant, over the fringe games and legal disputes, a certainty has never faltered.

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"I like football," said Bryant. "I watched every game. I like to watch football. I am a fan first. "

Earlier this week, the New Orleans Saints signed Bryant and gave him a chance to qualify for a career delay. The invitation from coach Sean Payton came from nowhere. Bryant ran to Louisiana. He swore to do everything he was told. He promised to accept any role. He was grateful and kind.

Dez was back. Good for him. Good for the league, if only because the Saints visited the Cowboys later this month and, man, does that have any potential for fun.

Then, during the last practice session on Friday, during Bryant's second session with the Saints, he tore up his Achilles, according to the NFL network. An MRI is planned. Nobody seems optimistic. If that's the case, then it's probably the case for 30-year-olds.

Boom, just like that.

Brutal.

Dez has his critics but he has never doubted his love for the game or his desire to win. If anything, he wanted it too much and never had any idea how to properly channel his passion. Playing overboard made it great. It could also make it combustible.

Shouting against his teammates, screaming during games, mediocre body language, he was almost always, if not always, rooted in trying to ask everyone better, including himself.

"It's emotion," said Jerry Jones, owner of The Cowboys, after a clash between Bryant and Tony Romo during a game in Detroit in 2013.

"He's a competitive guy," said Romo that day, offering total forgiveness. "… I'm sure you've seen him become emotional, which happens in every game, he's never complained to me to get the ball, he knows the ball [is] go to where he is supposed to. He knows it.

"When you see Dez's emotions, it's just trying to" rah, rah "more than being a" me ". That's not what Dez is. I think it would be completely wrong for him if there ever was a "me" situation. He does a great job. Sometimes he almost moves: "Come on guys, come on, we're better than that." He has never been a full-fledged guy. "

For years, the Cowboys were willing to trade that. Dez was who Dez was, and with her the big games, the clutch games, the winning games. There was a moment when he was almost unstoppable. Players are getting older, though. Wide receivers are aging faster than anyone.

Finally, Dallas decided that Bryant's field production was no longer justified in the face of sudden outbreaks. Thirteen hundred yards and 16 touchdowns, that's one thing. Eight hundred yards and six touchdowns are another, apparently. Dallas, note, is 3-5 years old.

The rest of the NFL, however, seemed to be in agreement. Bryant sat down and tried to reassess everything. He just wanted one more chance.

"A lot of ups and downs," Bryant said Thursday. "Want to play football, think about playing football, think about getting ready."

He was asked about the integration in the locker room. He said that would not be a problem because it has never been a problem.

"I will always be me," said Bryant. "I'm not a bad guy.I've always been a good guy.You can ask my teammates and my ex-teammates.I love the locker room.It's like a family.All the cloakrooms in which I went, from high school to high school, through college, have always been like a family, a natural link. "

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