Twitter: Dez goes off on reporters in lockerroom after practice

[Yakuza Rich]

You didn't hear it. I didn't hear it. Apparently nobody heard it. I strongly suspect that nobody said it, but it was a quick, easy crutch. But even if JJT did, it would have been in that "bro" vain, and it shouldn't have been made this huge issue. I mean, how many things do people let slide for Dez every day around there?

He needs to grow up.

I think JJT did say it just based on what I've heard about the guy.

And it's obvious if he said it, he said it in the 'bros' vein.

Still, I find it hypocritical of many in the press that complain that black people use the term towards each other. Then when Dez is not for a person who is more or less a stranger to him calling him by that...these same critics do a complete 180.

Personally, I don't have a problem with black people referring that to each other if they are actual friends with the person. I think JJT saying it (allegedly) just isn't the right place. It's completely unprofessional.

I don't think JJT (allegedly) meant any harm about it, but when you're unprofessional you can really offend the person that you're being unprofessional with.

And if this incident gets JJT to stop using the word while he's working, then that's a good thing, IMO.






YR

 

[perrykemp]

I think JJT did say it just based on what I've heard about the guy.

And it's obvious if he said it, he said it in the 'bros' vein.

Still, I find it hypocritical of many in the press that complain that black people use the term towards each other. Then when Dez is not for a person who is more or less a stranger to him calling him by that...these same critics do a complete 180.

Personally, I don't have a problem with black people referring that to each other if they are actual friends with the person. I think JJT saying it (allegedly) just isn't the right place. It's completely unprofessional.

I don't think JJT (allegedly) meant any harm about it, but when you're unprofessional you can really offend the person that you're being unprofessional with.

And if this incident gets JJT to stop using the word while he's working, then that's a good thing, IMO.






YR

What a unbelievably complex word.

Edit: That's not intended to be a sarcastic statement.

 

[Wayne02]

I think JJT did say it just based on what I've heard about the guy.

And it's obvious if he said it, he said it in the 'bros' vein.

Still, I find it hypocritical of many in the press that complain that black people use the term towards each other. Then when Dez is not for a person who is more or less a stranger to him calling him by that...these same critics do a complete 180.

Personally, I don't have a problem with black people referring that to each other if they are actual friends with the person. I think JJT saying it (allegedly) just isn't the right place. It's completely unprofessional.

I don't think JJT (allegedly) meant any harm about it, but when you're unprofessional you can really offend the person that you're being unprofessional with.

And if this incident gets JJT to stop using the word while he's working, then that's a good thing, IMO.






YR

It's been confirmed by everyone who was around the situation that JJT didn't say it, I don't know why you guys refuse to believe the facts. Dez didn't even hear anything, he believed what Devin Street said.

 

[erod]

I think JJT did say it just based on what I've heard about the guy.

And it's obvious if he said it, he said it in the 'bros' vein.

Still, I find it hypocritical of many in the press that complain that black people use the term towards each other. Then when Dez is not for a person who is more or less a stranger to him calling him by that...these same critics do a complete 180.

Personally, I don't have a problem with black people referring that to each other if they are actual friends with the person. I think JJT saying it (allegedly) just isn't the right place. It's completely unprofessional.

I don't think JJT (allegedly) meant any harm about it, but when you're unprofessional you can really offend the person that you're being unprofessional with.

And if this incident gets JJT to stop using the word while he's working, then that's a good thing, IMO.


YR

Dez goes off constantly. JJT is just the latest. It'll be something else stirring up Dez a week from now.

 

[erod]

What a unbelievably complex word.

Edit: That's not intended to be a sarcastic statement.

In the Age of Victimization, it's absolute kryptonite.

 

[Idgit]

http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sports/...ia-dez-was-wrong-and-it-needs-to-be-fixed.ece

I'm sure your teammates really appreciate this, Dez. Now shut up and play.

Interestingly enough, not a single one of these guys addressed Dez' point, that the media get it right when they report these stories. That's not in any way a surprise, but it is pretty telling.

Personally, if every player on the team decided to back Dez in expecting the media that covers the Cowboys to get stories right more often, I'd be all for it. Not talking about not giving access or interviews, but it's common knowledge that the media around this team just gets things wrong all the time, and I sometimes think they do it intentionally. The players don't need to carry water for this group. The good ones deserve respect, and the bad ones can be treated like you'd treat anyone else who's bad at what they do. The team shouldn't have to participate in the charade that JJT is good at his job just because he's got a voice recording app on his iphone and access to the locker room.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Dez goes off constantly. JJT is just the latest. It'll be something else stirring up Dez a week from now.

Like I said earlier, Dez lost millions from the media in their 'worse than Ray Rice tape' reporting. It's going to set people off.

And 2 wrongs don't make a right.

I believe JJT used that word based off a good source and it's not professional and there is no room for a reporter to be using that word when interviewing players.







YR

 

[Yakuza Rich]

It's been confirmed by everyone who was around the situation that JJT didn't say it, I don't know why you guys refuse to believe the facts. Dez didn't even hear anything, he believed what Devin Street said.

That's not quite correct.

Other reporters said that they didn't hear JJT say that.

It's not like reporters don't blatantly stick up for the media. As Jason Whitlock has said, there's a giant 'omerta' with the sports media and how they protect each other.

I have a source that was there, but didn't hear it because he was on the other end of the locker room and JJT was interviewing Street by himself.

He e-mailed me last night and said that JJT has used that word with him quite a bit, but they are associates so he doesn't mind.

It makes me believe that JJT did say it since my source says he uses it quite a bit. The other reporters weren't around Street and JJT so they wouldn't know and I don't know why Street would just make that up.




YR

 

[erod]

Like I said earlier, Dez lost millions from the media in their 'worse than Ray Rice tape' reporting. It's going to set people off.

YR

While true, I think it's quite possible Jerry was the one floating it out there for just that very purpose.

 

[Roadtrip635]

This team has just been a 3-ring circus this year.

 

[erod]

That's not quite correct.

Other reporters said that they didn't hear JJT say that.

It's not like reporters don't blatantly stick up for the media. As Jason Whitlock has said, there's a giant 'omerta' with the sports media and how they protect each other.

I have a source that was there, but didn't hear it because he was on the other end of the locker room and JJT was interviewing Street by himself.

He e-mailed me last night and said that JJT has used that word with him quite a bit, but they are associates so he doesn't mind.

It makes me believe that JJT did say it since my source says he uses it quite a bit. The other reporters weren't around Street and JJT so they wouldn't know and I don't know why Street would just make that up.

YR

OK, let's say he said it. Would that justify Dez' reaction? Did he just get blasted by massive JJT racism?

C'mon. This is Dez pretty much every day somewhere to somebody.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

What a unbelievably complex word.

Edit: That's not intended to be a sarcastic statement.

I never worry about it. I have no desire to say the word and I believe this is a free country and give me liberty or give me death. If you want to use that word, knock yourself out.

But, business is different. And JJT works in a professional business and shouldn't say the word.

Believe me, there are a lot of black reporters that use that word while working (even Michael Wilbon has admitted as such). It's just very unprofessional and they are representing the company they work for by acting that way. Even if I used a word that was less racial like 'homeboy' or 'dude' or 'bro', it's still unprofessional.





YR

 

[Yakuza Rich]

OK, let's say he said it. Would that justify Dez' reaction? Did he just get blasted by massive JJT racism?

C'mon. This is Dez pretty much every day somewhere to somebody.

Maybe Dez felt that JJT thought he could get away with saying that to Street because Street is low man on the WR totem pole. Maybe Dez knew that Street didn't like being referred to that way, but wouldn't do anything about it because if he confronted JJT about it, hypocrites would complain about Street complaining and then the team may decide that is a 'distraction' and Street's playing ability and contract weren't worth it.

Personally, I would have pulled JJT aside and tell him that he is not to use that word again.

Maybe Dez did that and JJT blew him off.

I think that would have ticked me off.





YR

 

[Wayne02]

That's not quite correct.

Other reporters said that they didn't hear JJT say that.

It's not like reporters don't blatantly stick up for the media. As Jason Whitlock has said, there's a giant 'omerta' with the sports media and how they protect each other.

I have a source that was there, but didn't hear it because he was on the other end of the locker room and JJT was interviewing Street by himself.

He e-mailed me last night and said that JJT has used that word with him quite a bit, but they are associates so he doesn't mind.

It makes me believe that JJT did say it since my source says he uses it quite a bit. The other reporters weren't around Street and JJT so they wouldn't know and I don't know why Street would just make that up.




YR

There were Cowboy officials there who said that he didn't say it. JJT has been in the media for 30 years, and you think he's going to drop the N word to a nobody like Devin Street out of the blue? Seriously? At some point these players need to be held accountable and stop looking for the media to be the scapegoat for their frustrations.

 

[LandryFan]

But the media treats him like anything but a success story. They have for years and there's a large contingent here and elsewhere that laps it up. If that were me I'd have no love lost for people who have consistently attacked my character and I'd be hard pressed not to have a similar reaction. This is not an isolated incident. This is a part of a pattern of the media's treatment of Dez and JJT is just the condescending conduit in this case.

http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sports/...ia-dez-was-wrong-and-it-needs-to-be-fixed.ece

I'm sure your teammates really appreciate this, Dez. Now shut up and play.

John Clayton, ESPN: Very disturbing. And particularly as a former president of the Pro Football Writer's Association, there's no excuse for that type of an outrage on a very respected reporter. I've known Jean-Jacques Taylor for two decades. First off, and it's been backed up by all the people around him, there was no racial slur made by Jean-Jacques Taylor. A lot of times we misinterpret Dez Bryant. In this case, it was negative. An apology is certainly going to be deserved in this one. If you're gonna be Dez Bryant, you've just gotta watch yourself. He's an emotional player. This one, he was wrong and it needs to be fixed.

There's certainly a part of me that says Dez needs to tune out the media and focus on football. But when John Clayton comes out and says Dez was wrong and needs to apologize, it makes my blood boil. Where was ol' John when the media came out claiming that there was a tape that was coming out any minute now that would show Dez doing something way worse than Ray Rice, but yet the video never showed up, and apparently never existed? All of this was being pushed hard both nationally and locally at a time when Dez was in negotiations for a new contract. Where was/is the media's apology and desire to fix the wrong they created through all of their libelous reporting on the Dez tape? The media are a bunch of hypocrites who instigate crap and then complain how they are treated. If I were Dez, I'd tell every last one of them to kiss my *** and give "no comment" type interviews for the rest of my career.

 

[erod]

Maybe Dez felt that JJT thought he could get away with saying that to Street because Street is low man on the WR totem pole. Maybe Dez knew that Street didn't like being referred to that way, but wouldn't do anything about it because if he confronted JJT about it, hypocrites would complain about Street complaining and then the team may decide that is a 'distraction' and Street's playing ability and contract weren't worth it.

Personally, I would have pulled JJT aside and tell him that he is not to use that word again.

Maybe Dez did that and JJT blew him off.

I think that would have ticked me off.

YR

Dez freaked out last week over a tweet from some random guy on Twitter after the Seattle game. He's a loose cannon.

 

[Idgit]

That's not quite correct.

Other reporters said that they didn't hear JJT say that.

It's not like reporters don't blatantly stick up for the media. As Jason Whitlock has said, there's a giant 'omerta' with the sports media and how they protect each other.

I have a source that was there, but didn't hear it because he was on the other end of the locker room and JJT was interviewing Street by himself.

He e-mailed me last night and said that JJT has used that word with him quite a bit, but they are associates so he doesn't mind.

It makes me believe that JJT did say it since my source says he uses it quite a bit. The other reporters weren't around Street and JJT so they wouldn't know and I don't know why Street would just make that up.

YR

I wouldn't put it past JJT to have said it at all. I could also see Street relaying to Dez "JJT said 'I don't give an expletive about you,' n-bomb." With the n-bomb added for emphasis by Street. And Dez thinking he just said "JJT said 'I don't give an expletive about you, n-bomb." And then going off on the wrong guy.

It seems reasonable that two players might use that epithet in a friendly way between each other when they're discussing a charged situation. And I can totally see Dez misinterpreting that and going off, and Street being like, 'whoops.' Just speculation, but it's possible.

 

[erod]

John Clayton, ESPN: Very disturbing. And particularly as a former president of the Pro Football Writer's Association, there's no excuse for that type of an outrage on a very respected reporter. I've known Jean-Jacques Taylor for two decades. First off, and it's been backed up by all the people around him, there was no racial slur made by Jean-Jacques Taylor. A lot of times we misinterpret Dez Bryant. In this case, it was negative. An apology is certainly going to be deserved in this one. If you're gonna be Dez Bryant, you've just gotta watch yourself. He's an emotional player. This one, he was wrong and it needs to be fixed.

There's certainly a part of me that says Dez needs to tune out the media and focus on football. But when John Clayton comes out and says Dez was wrong and needs to apologize, it makes my blood boil. Where was ol' John when the media came out claiming that there was a tape that was coming out any minute now that would show Dez doing something way worse than Ray Rice, but yet the video never showed up, and apparently never existed? All of this was being pushed hard, nationally, at a time when Dez was in negotiations for a new contract. Where was/is the media's apology to Dez for that wrong. The media are3 a bunch of hypocrites who instigate crap and then complain how they are treated. If I were Dez, I'd tell every last one of them to kiss my *** and give "no comment" type interviews for the rest of my career.

I tend to believe that it was the Cowboys that floated that "video" thing to the media to justify the franchise tag. Dez then threatened not to play, and Jerry blinked.

 

[RunDMC]

Dez freaked out last week over a tweet from some random guy on Twitter after the Seattle game. He's a loose cannon.

Someone accused him of being happy for another player's injury.

I'd love to see you react different when someone does that to you.

 

[Idgit]

Dez freaked out last week over a tweet from some random guy on Twitter after the Seattle game. He's a loose cannon.

It was a tweet that said he was celebrating an injury. And it got picked up immediately and repeated. That's not being a loose cannon. And I hate that fans of the Cowboys and fans of Dez don't see that issue for what it was and aren't universally behind the player for something like that.

It's precisely incidents like that that Dez is talking about when he says they need to 'get it right.' He's right, even if he's being naive or foolish in ranting about it. They do need to get it right, but as long as people are willing to give them a pass when they don't bother to do it, they can get away with spinning and prevaricating and too many people will just shrug and say 'what are you going to do?'

It's catching up to them. ESPN, in particular. I'll be glad to see them continue to disintegrate over the next few years.