This was back in 2012:
For the first time, there is a positive and unique change in the mentorship of Dez Bryant: The player sought out the help himself. And the person he’s approached is former Dallas tight end Jay Novacek.
“We’ve talked, yes,’’ Novacek coyly tells 105.3 The Fan. “I’m certainly available to Dez if he needs me.’’
Sources tell me that Bryant approached Novacek when the five-time Pro Bowler visited the team’s Oxnard, Calif., camp and said, “How did you do what you did? Can you show me how you did what you did?’’
Said a source: “It seems like a weird choice. But at the same time, it’s a wonderful choice.’’
Novacek doesn’t want Dez’ money, doesn’t want Dez to sign with an agent crony, doesn’t want Dez to hook up with a certain sports apparel company. Novacek – who during his years as a three-time Super Bowl winner marched to the beat of his own drummer but always did so within the boundaries of team rules and the law – has no ulterior motives here except to grant Bryant’s unorthodox request.
When Coach Jason Garrett says “Dez is maturing as a football player and as a person,’’ this is the sort of sound decision he’s talking about.
It is unorthodox, of course, for reasons that are obvious: Novacek, who will be 50 in October, is old-school. He drives a truck. He rides cutting horses. He’s from Nebraska. He’s a family man. He’s quiet. He wears a Stetson. Oh, and he’s white. Suffice to say, Novacek has never spent $800,000 on a jewelry shopping spree, has never been in conflict with mall security over baggy pants and has never been told by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones that there is an airplane ticket home waiting for him if he doesn’t get in line.
http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2012/08/23/dez-chooses-novacek-as-mentor/