Will the rookie Bryant seek a helping hand from veterans?
Dez Bryant’s high ankle sprain will keep him off the field and he is already off to a bad start with a few members of the Dallas Cowboys. Bryant, who suffered the injury late last week can miss up to six weeks of practice and may be in danger of falling behind. Bryant, who created quite a stir when he went against tradition and refused to carry the pads of veteran wide receiver Roy Williams, might have to swallow his pride and seek guidance from older players instead of trying to upstage them in front of the media.
Williams, who insisted that the feud was done and over with, may possibly, still have some form of resentment towards the first-round draft pick, who failed to follow rookie protocol at training camp. Bryant responded to criticism by saying that he was drafted to play football and not carry pads out onto the practice field. Many might mistake this confidence for arrogance, but Bryant assured coaches and players that the latter was clearly not the case.
But the truth will soon come to light and we will see if the rookie dares to ask Williams for help as all he can do is take mental reps with the team.
The Cowboys announced that they will cram Patrick Crayton back on their crowded receiving corps, much to his surprise. "You never know, injuries come with the game. You never know what's going to happen."
Crayton spoke about Bryant’s injury and how it was hard to see his new teammate being escorted off the field by the athletic trainers. "You never want anything, especially a receiver to get hurt," Crayton said. "The rest of the receivers, we've got to step up."
That’s exactly what Bryant’s injury means for the other receivers battling for a spot on the crowded roster. Both younger and older guys will have a chance to get more reps with the first round draft pick out of the rotation for about a month.
And the NFL is a business and Bryant is a rookie, so his spot on the team is not cemented just yet. While other players will be temporarily taking his place with the practice squad, Bryant will be limited to studying the playbook, breaking down film with the coaching staff and taken mental reps while his body heals. "It was really disappointing and it really causes you to ask what can you do, what can you do in practices that can mitigate some of the exposure to some of these injuries," said owner Jerry Jones.
While the mental aspect is vital for a rookie’s success in the NFL, getting as many reps on the practice field is the best way to learn and correct mistakes. Players who are healthy enough to play and compete at training camp get one-on-one guidance from their position coach as well as feedback from veterans willing to share a few tricks. This is the only way that a player can improve his individual game and get in tune with his teammates.
His injury will have him missing almost all of Cowboys training camp. That kind of setback can take its toll on a player psyche. He will have to reach out to his teammates instead of viewing them all as opponents vying for a place on the team, or else it could be a long preseason for Bryant. Timing, chemistry and cohesion are all built on the football field. The team will move forward with or without him, so Bryant can’t afford to be left behind.
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