News: PFT: Dez Bryant: We didn’t work hard enough during 8-8 seasons

[NewsBot]

The Cowboys return from their bye with a game against the Giants on Sunday night and they’ll be trying to take another step toward the playoffs when the game kicks off. If the Cowboys can make it to the postseason, it will snap a three-year run of 8-8 records that culminated with the division title…http://youwillnotrackme2.net/b.gif?host=profootballtalk.nbcsports.com&blog=&post=2296836&subd=nbcprofootballtalk&ref=&feed=1

“I’m going to give you my honest opinion. The years that we did go 8-8, I think — me, because this is just how I am — I don’t think we worked hard enough,” Bryant said, via ESPNDallas.com. “I’m not saying we didn’t work, like, I mean the offseason, during the OTAs — not the coaches. That’s on us. The first thing that I did right after the game, we lost to Philadelphia, my brother will tell you — I was working out the next day. Just because I felt like ‘Damn, we didn’t do enough.’ Obviously we didn’t do enough, they was the better team. It feels different, it’s a lot different — it’s a lot different from last year. We’re more together, we want it more, we’ve got the same vision, and that’s kind of hard when you’ve got a team like that.”

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[Nirvana]

Out of context headline just shows you can't let your guard down with the media.

 

[Doomsday101]

Out of context headline just shows you can't let your guard down with the media.

He put that on players, coaches are not with you all the time and it falls to players to put in the work at night to review film to get themselves ready.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Out of context headline just shows you can't let your guard down with the media.

I added quote to OP to give it an assist

 

[big dog cowboy]

It feels different, it’s a lot different — it’s a lot different from last year. We’re more together, we want it more, we’ve got the same vision, and that’s kind of hard when you’ve got a team like that.”

I'd like to see that the next 2 games. It's time to take control of the division and not slide back into that old familiar pattern.

 

[65fastback2plus2]

Out of context headline just shows you can't let your guard down with the media.

Id hardly say its out of context

"The years that we did go 8-8, ... I don’t think we worked hard enough" - those were exactly his words.

 

[Idgit]

You can always work harder, so this is a great way to put that idea out there for the team and to keep them focused on what they can control.

The 8-8 years, though, we didn't win more because our defense was awful. It's decent this year, and we're winning more suddenly. The correlation is pretty clear. And i don't think we're winning suddenly because the defense is just working harder, either.

 

[jazzcat22]

You can always work harder, so this is a great way to put that idea out there for the team and to keep them focused on what they can control.

The 8-8 years, though, we didn't win more because our defense was awful. It's decent this year, and we're winning more suddenly. The correlation is pretty clear. And i don't think we're winning suddenly because the defense is just working harder, either.

Right. We are winning with help from the defense for once, and as you said, not from working harder, but because I feel, much is from being healthy.
Even with average to above average players, it's the health. Some stars may begin to emerge, but at least they are actual football players, not street guys with new guys every week.

 

[Dave_in-NC]

While the defense has average players that are now somewhat healthy you still would have to say they are working harder. I think the addition of MCclain and his personality is making them work a little harder at the very least.
Dez, I think has always maxed out how hard he works and that elevates how hard the others might work.

 

[erod]

Dez is an odd physical being.

Obviously, the guy works hard to be built like he is and do the athletic things he does. However, he does tend to cramp more and get tired faster than just about anybody on the team.

My theory is that he spends so much emotion and energy on the sideline and in between plays, he wears himself out. He seems to be under more control now. Less trash talking and sideline antics.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

The Cowboys return from their bye with a game against the Giants on Sunday night and they’ll be trying to take another step toward the playoffs when the game kicks off. If the Cowboys can make it to the postseason, it will snap a three-year run of 8-8 records that culminated with the division title…http://youwillnotrackme2.net/b.gif?host=profootballtalk.nbcsports.com&blog=&post=2296836&subd=nbcprofootballtalk&ref=&feed=1

“I’m going to give you my honest opinion. The years that we did go 8-8, I think — me, because this is just how I am — I don’t think we worked hard enough,” Bryant said, via ESPNDallas.com. “I’m not saying we didn’t work, like, I mean the offseason, during the OTAs — not the coaches. That’s on us. The first thing that I did right after the game, we lost to Philadelphia, my brother will tell you — I was working out the next day. Just because I felt like ‘Damn, we didn’t do enough.’ Obviously we didn’t do enough, they was the better team. It feels different, it’s a lot different — it’s a lot different from last year. We’re more together, we want it more, we’ve got the same vision, and that’s kind of hard when you’ve got a team like that.”

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He had a beautiful mind!

 

[Idgit]

Right. We are winning with help from the defense for once, and as you said, not from working harder, but because I feel, much is from being healthy.
Even with average to above average players, it's the health. Some stars may begin to emerge, but at least they are actual football players, not street guys with new guys every week.

Like other people are saying, average is a step up from what we've been trotting out. We're not in position to turn our noses up at average after our recent production.

We all expect we're going to add talent to the defense in the coming off season(s).

 

[Primetime42]

Dez is an odd physical being.

Obviously, the guy works hard to be built like he is and do the athletic things he does. However, he does tend to cramp more and get tired faster than just about anybody on the team.

My theory is that he spends so much emotion and energy on the sideline and in between plays, he wears himself out. He seems to be under more control now. Less trash talking and sideline antics.

It's much easier to cramp when you're a ridiculous physical specimen like he is. Think of Lebron in that Finals vs the Spurs.

 

[Beast_from_East]

The Cowboys return from their bye with a game against the Giants on Sunday night and they’ll be trying to take another step toward the playoffs when the game kicks off. If the Cowboys can make it to the postseason, it will snap a three-year run of 8-8 records that culminated with the division title…http://youwillnotrackme2.net/b.gif?host=profootballtalk.nbcsports.com&blog=&post=2296836&subd=nbcprofootballtalk&ref=&feed=1

“I’m going to give you my honest opinion. The years that we did go 8-8, I think — me, because this is just how I am — I don’t think we worked hard enough,” Bryant said, via ESPNDallas.com. “I’m not saying we didn’t work, like, I mean the offseason, during the OTAs — not the coaches. That’s on us. The first thing that I did right after the game, we lost to Philadelphia, my brother will tell you — I was working out the next day. Just because I felt like ‘Damn, we didn’t do enough.’ Obviously we didn’t do enough, they was the better team. It feels different, it’s a lot different — it’s a lot different from last year. We’re more together, we want it more, we’ve got the same vision, and that’s kind of hard when you’ve got a team like that.”

Continue reading...

Don't mean to sound harsh, but talk is cheap........................don't tell me how much harder the team is working and how the team is way more together this year and everybody has the same vision.................go out and win the games to prove it.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

I'd like to see that the next 2 games. It's time to take control of the division and not slide back into that old familiar pattern.

bingo, a number of times in those 8-8 seasons, we had the chance to take the division and didn't. The freezing own kicker in Arizona, the blown game against the Giants when we were ahead 13 with 4 minutes to go and lost, hell even last year, had the ball with plenty of time for a winning FG on the last drive of the season and threw an INT.

Until they actually win on the field, this is all talk.

 

[Jstopper]

Don't mean to sound harsh, but talk is cheap........................don't tell me how much harder the team is working and how the team is way more together this year and everybody has the same vision.................go out and win the games to prove it.

Um dude when have we ever been 7-3 under Garrett? With quality wins inside that 7 as well? We are 11 weeks into the season and they have been proving it all year.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Id hardly say its out of context

"The years that we did go 8-8, ... I don’t think we worked hard enough" - those were exactly his words.

But, he expanded upon those words.

The headline makes it seem like the Cowboys didn't work hard and that is why they went 8-8. What Dez is really saying is that because they went 8-8, they needed to work even harder because the current level of work they put in wasn't good enough.

I'm not overly outraged by taking it out of context. If it becomes something that the media starts to blow out of proportion, then they are maliciously taking it out of context.





YR

 

[Clove]

It's because those teams weren't good enough. And on the small chance they did make the playoffs, it's an early exit. I'm just ready for a team that can not only make the playoffs, but go to the Super Bowl and win. This is our best chance to do that in years. We need to take NY and squeeze the life out of them. Then make philly our personal stepping stone, and just beat any team in our way. No lapses in concentration like Washington, that **** can't happen anymore if we're to go anywhere.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

I'm confused bc wiitten was saying all those years that the team learned from their mistakes and things would be different

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

Um dude when have we ever been 7-3 under Garrett? With quality wins inside that 7 as well? We are 11 weeks into the season and they have been proving it all year.

We were 7-4 in 2011 I believe