By Michael Rodgers
The Cleveland Browns open training camp July 26th and earlier today a pre-camp press conference was held by General Manager John Dorsey and Head Coach Hue Jackson.
The main topic of conversation was wide receiver Josh Gordon and his decision to miss the start of training camp for what he calls “a part of his overall health and treatment plan.”
Other news from the press conference was that wide receiver Ricardo Lewis will miss the entire 2018 season with a neck injury.
Knowing that the Browns will be without Lewis and there not being a time table for Gordon’s return, they will be working out free agent receivers. The name uttered by Dorsey that caught everyone’s attention though was former Dallas Cowboy receiver, Dez Bryant.
From 2012-2014 seasons Bryant was considered a top-5 receiver in the NFL and he had the numbers to back it up. Bryant had a three year average of 91 receptions, 1,311 yards and 13 touchdowns, playing in all 48 possible games.
His presence and dominance were unquestioned on the field, but the following three years have been a disappointment.
The receiver has missed ten games the past three years because of injuries and has seen a huge drop in his production. From the 2015-2017 seasons, Bryant has averaged 50 receptions, 678 yards and five touchdowns. Those numbers are far from what was expected of him in Dallas.
The drop in production is not the only thing that worries general managers around the NFL, his attitude and character have also been questioned. Bryant has developed a reputation as being a me first type of player, a poor route runner and a distraction on the sidelines.
It appears his reputation has become reality in the minds of most, but a change of scenery could do Bryant well. He won’t be 30 years old until November and would could be a bargain for the Browns, a low risk high reward type situation.
It will be interesting to see throughout camp if the Browns decide Bryant is worth the gamble and how Browns fans feel about Dorsey’s interest in the former pro-bowler.
“I have had a chance to be around Dez, I have known Dez. I had a chance – when he was down in Lufkin, Texas – I was actually at his workout and had a chance to meet him. I know the kind of person that he is and what makes him. He is a very talented player,” Dorsey said Wednesday.
“Have we had discussions about Dez Bryant? Yeah. That is natural. You can have discussions like that. Now, we will see what comes to fruition the next couple of days, but we’v talk about it. You have to talk about these things. I have talked about a lot of things. There have been a whole list of players that we have talked about as a staff.”
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