Post by Father Figure on Sept 2, 2010 8:42:55 GMT -5
www.dallascowboys.com/news/news.cfm?id=CED7A7F3-D614-99FB-36E2F0493BBD3852
Bryant Not Playing Thursday Against Miami
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas - Since Dez Bryant went down on July 30 and immediately grabbed for his right ankle, the big question concerning the Cowboys was just when the rookie wide receiver would come back.
According to Jerry Jones, Bryant's long-awaited return won't happen Thursday night. Just before the start of Wednesday's annual Kickoff Luncheon, held this year at Cowboys Stadium, Jones told reporters that Bryant would not play against the Dolphins in the preseason finale.
"You don't want to have additional risks, if there are any," Jones said.
And that contradicts what Bryant has been saying all along. Even this week he said he planned to play one series against Miami. He has said repeatedly he wanted to get back for a preseason game, if not two.
But considering Bryant only returned to practice on Tuesday, it makes sense for the Cowboys to be overly cautious with their rookie receiver, especially since most of the starters won't play against the Dolphins either.
"I looked at the big picture ... that's how I was able to keep calm," Bryant said of the decision. "I understand it 100 percent."
On Tuesday, Jones gave the first hint that Bryant wouldn't play, stating his rookie receiver would only take the field if the first-teamers were in action. Minutes later, head coach Wade Phillips announced the starters wouldn't play at all this week, a customary procedure that Phillips has done since he took over as head coach in 2007.
The Cowboys obviously figured playing Bryant, surrounded only by second-teamers, wasn't worth the risk of further injury.
But also, looking back to previous injuries with this team and the athletic training staff, returning to play in a game after only one practice hasn't been the norm, even for the most experienced veterans. So it's unlikely that Bryant ever had a strong chance to get in this game, despite his wishes to play.
Cowboys receiver coach Ray Sherman said he was impressed with the rookie's return to the practice field Tuesday.
"I thought he did some good things," Sherman said. "He went through special teams. He went through drills with me. Then he came out and ran some plays with the offense. I thought he looked very good. He's ready to go."
Along with his role at wide receiver, it's expected Bryant could also handle some punt return duties, and maybe even kickoffs as well.
While there always seems to be some kind of uncertainty regarding Bryant, whether he will eventually start, or play special teams, the biggest question mark all along was when exactly the rookie from Oklahoma State would make it back to action after the initial injury.
Was it nothing major and he'd be right back the next day?
Was this as serious as it looked and he'd be out a month or so? Or possibly, is this one of those really bad setbacks that could force him to miss the year?
Fortunately for the Cowboys and Bryant, it was just a high-ankle sprain with a 4-6 week timetable for a return.
So here we are. Four weeks and some change later and the Cowboys have been faced with a dilemma. Play the rookie and give him not only a small taste of the NFL game-speed, but also his first game experience in nearly 12 months considering he sat out the final nine games at Oklahoma State last year because of an NCAA investigation and consequent suspension.
Or, the Cowboys could stick to the team-wide theme of playing it safe and hold out Bryant for yet another game, giving him 10 more days before he plays in the season opener in Washington on Sept. 12.
Staying cautious and smart, the Cowboys are holding out Bryant once again. But by doing that, they've become rather thin now at receiver for this preseason finale.
Without Miles Austin and Roy Williams, who didn't practice Tuesday because of a minor lower back/hip injury, and probably Patrick Crayton, too, the Cowboys should have only four receivers in uniform against the Dolphins.
Without Dez Bryant, the Cowboys will likely start Sam Hurd and Kevin Ogletree, with Jesse Holley and Manny Johnson taking the bulk of the second-half reps. The team decided to release Terrell Hudgins on Monday in the process of trimming the roster from 80 to 75 players.
Bryant Not Playing Thursday Against Miami
Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas - Since Dez Bryant went down on July 30 and immediately grabbed for his right ankle, the big question concerning the Cowboys was just when the rookie wide receiver would come back.
According to Jerry Jones, Bryant's long-awaited return won't happen Thursday night. Just before the start of Wednesday's annual Kickoff Luncheon, held this year at Cowboys Stadium, Jones told reporters that Bryant would not play against the Dolphins in the preseason finale.
"You don't want to have additional risks, if there are any," Jones said.
And that contradicts what Bryant has been saying all along. Even this week he said he planned to play one series against Miami. He has said repeatedly he wanted to get back for a preseason game, if not two.
But considering Bryant only returned to practice on Tuesday, it makes sense for the Cowboys to be overly cautious with their rookie receiver, especially since most of the starters won't play against the Dolphins either.
"I looked at the big picture ... that's how I was able to keep calm," Bryant said of the decision. "I understand it 100 percent."
On Tuesday, Jones gave the first hint that Bryant wouldn't play, stating his rookie receiver would only take the field if the first-teamers were in action. Minutes later, head coach Wade Phillips announced the starters wouldn't play at all this week, a customary procedure that Phillips has done since he took over as head coach in 2007.
The Cowboys obviously figured playing Bryant, surrounded only by second-teamers, wasn't worth the risk of further injury.
But also, looking back to previous injuries with this team and the athletic training staff, returning to play in a game after only one practice hasn't been the norm, even for the most experienced veterans. So it's unlikely that Bryant ever had a strong chance to get in this game, despite his wishes to play.
Cowboys receiver coach Ray Sherman said he was impressed with the rookie's return to the practice field Tuesday.
"I thought he did some good things," Sherman said. "He went through special teams. He went through drills with me. Then he came out and ran some plays with the offense. I thought he looked very good. He's ready to go."
Along with his role at wide receiver, it's expected Bryant could also handle some punt return duties, and maybe even kickoffs as well.
While there always seems to be some kind of uncertainty regarding Bryant, whether he will eventually start, or play special teams, the biggest question mark all along was when exactly the rookie from Oklahoma State would make it back to action after the initial injury.
Was it nothing major and he'd be right back the next day?
Was this as serious as it looked and he'd be out a month or so? Or possibly, is this one of those really bad setbacks that could force him to miss the year?
Fortunately for the Cowboys and Bryant, it was just a high-ankle sprain with a 4-6 week timetable for a return.
So here we are. Four weeks and some change later and the Cowboys have been faced with a dilemma. Play the rookie and give him not only a small taste of the NFL game-speed, but also his first game experience in nearly 12 months considering he sat out the final nine games at Oklahoma State last year because of an NCAA investigation and consequent suspension.
Or, the Cowboys could stick to the team-wide theme of playing it safe and hold out Bryant for yet another game, giving him 10 more days before he plays in the season opener in Washington on Sept. 12.
Staying cautious and smart, the Cowboys are holding out Bryant once again. But by doing that, they've become rather thin now at receiver for this preseason finale.
Without Miles Austin and Roy Williams, who didn't practice Tuesday because of a minor lower back/hip injury, and probably Patrick Crayton, too, the Cowboys should have only four receivers in uniform against the Dolphins.
Without Dez Bryant, the Cowboys will likely start Sam Hurd and Kevin Ogletree, with Jesse Holley and Manny Johnson taking the bulk of the second-half reps. The team decided to release Terrell Hudgins on Monday in the process of trimming the roster from 80 to 75 players.