Cowboys' very own history suggests Martavis Bryant can make an impact
A lot has been made about the signing of wide receiver Martavis Bryant to the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad. There appears to be a divide among fans and media about what the addition means for the team. On the one hand, Bryant has the size and speed to be a mismatch in the NFL. In […]
A lot has been made about the signing of wide receiver Martavis Bryant to the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad.
There appears to be a divide among fans and media about what the addition means for the team. On the one hand, Bryant has the size and speed to be a mismatch in the NFL. In fact, he's already been a mismatch in the league.
On the other hand, Bryant has been away from the NFL since 2018 and is now 31. Can he still contribute?
"Sky is the limit for me, man," Bryant told reporters on Wednesday. "I know I'm 31 but I'm still big, still fast, still want to play football."
Bryant added he's still moving at 22-23 miles per hour, which if true, could get him on the field alone. For context, the play with the fastest ball carrier of the 2023 season so far is Tyreek Hill at 22 miles per hour during a 64-yard catch in Week 5.
There's more to playing wide receiver in this league, though. And the Cowboys already have speed in Brandin Cooks and KaVontae Turpin. Martavis will have to work hard to make an impact on the team or even earn a role.
Speaking of hard work, there's something to be said about somebody who didn't give up on returning to the NFL. Bryant has been away from the league for five years. But he did have short stints in the XFL. He even played on Fan Controlled Football and the Indoor Football League. He never quit, even if he thought about it.
As I wrote in our previous piece about Bryant, fans should expect the new Cowboy to be a depth piece. The team likely trusts what it has in its wide receiver room over its newest player. Even with Michael Gallup's struggles, Bryant will have a tough time earning a gameday role.
In the meantime, it's all about being in the right spot to contribute down the road if needed.
"Gotta get in football shape," Bryant admitted. "I'm in shape but I got to get in football shape, football shape is a bit different, of course, you're running and lifting every day."
Cowboys once had success with a similar signing as Martavis Bryant
As surprised as I'd be at Bryant returning to be a difference-maker, this whole thing reminded me of the Cowboys' signing of Aldon Smith in 2020. When Dallas added him, Smith had missed four full seasons before coming back to the NFL at 31, the same age as Bryant is now.
Smith might not have been who he was at the start of his career when he put up historic numbers. But he did lead the Cowboys in pressures that year with 50. He also got five sacks and played a productive year.
So perhaps we shouldn't be too quick to dismiss Bryant just because of the time he's been away. Let's give him a chance just like the Cowboys did.
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