Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant - the subject of a strange, as of yet unconfirmed story about an incriminating 'Ray Rice-style' Wal-Mart security tape and also the subject of a recently confirmed 2011 incident outside of a Wal-Mart in a Dallas-area suburb involving police and Bryant but no arrests - believes the Cowboys are actually the culprits behind the continued growth of the rumor/story, according to a report from Jason Cole of Bleacher Report.
"According to people within the Dez Bryant camp, they believe that the Cowboys organization is basically pushing this story out there in order to suppress Dez Bryant's value in free agency or keep his contract demands under control if they place the franchise tag on him which they are expected to do," said Cole.
Wow. That is...hard to believe.
Bryant changed representation recently, switching from Eugene Parker to Jay Z's Roc Nation. It was reported at the time that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was against the change and was, in fact, reticent to do a deal with Bryant and his new agency, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports.
Bryant is set to hit free agency for the first time in his short NFL career after a season in which he posted 88 receptions for 1,320 yards and 16 touchdowns. It's hard to say exactly where this story originated, though Adam Schefter of ESPN recently offered cryptic remarks on the matter at the same time as he, seemingly, confirmed the existence of a tape, during an appearance on the Carmen and Jurko show.
Cole reports that the Cowboys have refused to go on the record concerning any aspect of the story.
"However, in speaking to a source within the Cowboys organization, they flatly deny it," Cole said. "In addition, sources I have talked to about this story are not from within the Cowboys organization. Furthermore, this is a very serious matter that could ultimately threaten Dez Bryant's career. It makes very little sense for the Cowboys to push this story out there."
The Cowboys flourished on offense this past season and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2009 thanks in large part to Bryant's dominant performance.
Logically, it makes little sense for them to push a story that could potentially threaten Bryant's ability to continue playing NFL football, even if it means a savings on his next contract.
Still, if that's what Bryant believes, that may be all that matters and could portend his departure from Dallas, one way or another.
