Dez Bryant: Is He Already the Dallas Cowboys' Brightest Star?

Not much has gone right in Dallas so far this season.

The Cowboys were said to be Super Bowl contenders, the likely pick to play for the NFC and be the first team in history to play in the big game with home field advantage.

Everyone knows the actual case by now: Dallas has started 2-7, lost their star quarterback Tony Romo to injury and were forced to make a midseason change at head coach after an lopsided and lifeless blowout loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Even with their troubles, most sportswriters and fans agree that Dallas is loaded with talented players. A convincing 33-20 victory over the New York Giants last Sunday showed off a lot of that big play ability. Even with many players posting highlight plays and impressive stats, one player stood out above the rest.

Dez Bryant, a headline discussion topic ever since the Cowboys selected him in the first round of the last NFL Draft, has managed to outshine a deep offensive roster and become the most talked about player on the Cowboys ninth ranked offense.

“One of the finest rookies I’ve seen,” NFL analyst Jimmy Johnson stated during the Dallas victory in the Meadowlands. “Any general manager would be looking for the type of receiver he is.”

Johnson, who knows a thing or two about recognizing young talent on a Dallas Cowboys team, would go on to compare Bryant to Detroit's Calvin Johnson, considered one of the best wideouts in the NFL.

In his past four games, Bryant has gained 328 yards and four touchdowns in only 23 catches, including a 104 yard total in only three catches last Sunday against a top ranked New York Giants defense. 

"He's one those players that can beat you," Giants defensive lineman Justin Tuck told to New York radio station WFAN. "They're going to do their best to get him the ball, but however they do it, he becomes the most dangerous person on the field when he has the football."

Bryant, who is still listed under fellow playmaker Miles Austin and Roy Williams on the Cowboys depth chart, has put up 852 total yards so far in 2010 and scored seven touchdowns. 

A threat on special teams as much as he is now proving to be as a wide receiver; here is how Bryant's stats break down by category:

• Wide Receiver: 41 catches for 539 yards (13.1 avg), 5 touchdowns
• Punt Returns: 14 for 202 yards, 2 touchdowns
• Kick Returns: 6 for 111 yards

Keep in mind that Bryant came into 2010 dealing with the lingering effects of a high ankle sprain that forced him to miss a great deal of time in training camp and pain through numerous games this year. 

Dallas hosts the Detroit Lions this Sunday, followed by a nationally televised game on Thursday against the New Orleans Saints. 

Can Dez continue to become the rising star of the Dallas Cowboys on the Thanksgiving Day stage?