Dear Dez Bryant, Just Shut Up and Carry Roy Williams Pads

By now, everyone has heard of the statements made by Dez Bryant after refusing to carry Roy Williams pads after practice. It is in Dez's best interest to shut up and carry the pads.

The bigger story isn't his refusal to take part in rookie rite of passage, it's his lack of respect for Roy Williams. If Terrell Owens or Keyshawn Johnson were the lead receiver on the Cowboys, I would wager that Dez carries the pads. However, Dez sees Roy Williams as the guy he was drafted to replace and refuses to play his rookie games.

Personally, I say that Dez hasn't done anything and needs to earn teammate respect in the same manner he has to earn the star that will go on his helmet. We all know he was drafted to play football, but so was every other rookie that has had to carry someones pads. So far, he is a fan favorite with his spectacular catches in PRACTICE and doesn't need anything to divide the Cowboys fan base.

I have no issue with a rookie that is about to make millions of dollars carrying a veterans gear or buying lunch for a month. At least they weren't trying to give him a bad haircut or tape him to the goal post. 

I prefer to think that Dez should've just shut up and carry the pads during training camp because eventually Roy will be on the sideline with a baseball cap on while Dez is on the field catching touchdowns.

The rift between Dez and Roy will be interesting to follow during training camp and the season. If one of them is off to a bad start, has some drops, or other issues, it will be interesting to see how the other reacts. This may be more volatile a situation at wide receiver than the Cowboys have seen. Only time will tell if Jerry's house is big enough for the two of them. If not, Roy will be looking for a new team.

Dez is part of the new breed of athlete that feel that the world is owed to them while their resume is still blank. It will be interesting to see if Dez hands his pads to a rookie later in his career.