News: ST: Dez Bryant on his sideline outbursts: I know it looks crazy, but I promise it’s not

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Dez Bryant wants to make it perfectly clear: He is a team player who wants nothing except to win.

Bryant talked for some 15 minutes Monday, explaining his sideline behavior that drew national attention during the Cowboys' 31-30 loss tot he Lions. He said he is misunderstood outside the locker room.

"I think for the most part, all of my teammates, they know," Bryant said. "They know how much I love this game. They know we compete; we battle; we go hard. It’s all about wanting to win. But I honestly feel – me speaking for myself – that’s the kind of attitude you have to have to try to get where you want to go."

The Cowboys have defended Bryant, whom TV cameras caught ranting on the sideline twice.

The first came in the third quarter after a Tony Romo incompletion on a pass intended for Dwayne Harris on third down, leading to a field goal and a 13-7 lead. Bryant yelled at Romo, receivers coach Derek Dooley and head coach Jason Garrett, none of whom seemed to pay him much attention.

Bryant said he was not demanding the ball, though he had only two catches for 22 yards to that point.

"It wasn’t directly to [Romo]," Bryant said. "It was like, 'Our defense, they’re getting turnovers. We've got to help them out.' I’m saying that to everybody, including myself. We've got to help them out."

After the Lions scored to take the lead with 12 seconds remaining, Bryant and tight end Jason Witten were seen yelling at each other with defensive end DeMarcus Ware stepping in calm Bryant. Witten and Bryant both said the tight end was trying to get Bryant to focus on the task at hand, which was a final offensive play.

Bryant said his relationship with Romo and Witten remains solid.

"All Witt was doing was trying to get me focused and get me ready for the next play," Bryant said. "I was just kind of heated, because they scored. As far as Romo, I know you all got sound bites and stuff on these cameras, I mean, or whatever, if you go back and look at it what I was saying to Romo, Terrance [Williams] just scored a touchdown and I was like, ‘They’re going to play him like that, keep throwing him the ball.’ From all the good stuff that was going on, go look at it. I had the same demeanor, the same demeanor. It was just one of those guys to where you know, we’ve got to win this game."

Jason Garrett talked to his fourth-year receiver about Bryant better channeling his emotions.

"We love the passion," Garrett said Monday. "We love the enthusiasm. Just got to keep the focus. We addressed it with him during the game. We addressed it with afterward. And he is going to be ready to go."

Bryant said he has no regrets and will continue to wear his emotions on his jersey.

"No regrets," he said. "It’s all love. Like I said, I know it looks crazy, but I promise you all it’s not."

-- Charean Williams






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