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It’s Football, Not Pussyball, Jerry

By C-O-U-R-T-N-E-Y!

Word out of Dallas this evening is that Dez Bryant, the Cowboys’ first round draft choice and media magnet, suffered a high ankle sprain that will keep him out of the entire preseason.   Any way you cut it, this is a big deal for Big D who was relying on Bryant to turn an already good offense into one of the league’s best.

In an interview with ESPN’s Chris Mortenson, Jerry Jones reportedly whined that the injury could have been prevented if the team had gone easier on Bryant who, according to Jones, was probably tired.

I hope that ball is traveling slow so it doesn't hurt Dez's hands. Photo from http://photos.newsok.com

That’s the dumbest thing I have heard since Jimmy Johnson announced he was going on Survivor.  Make no mistake, Jones has made a pastime of foot-in-mouth comments to the media (and fans) over the years, but this may well take the cake.  Bryant is a rookie, getting ready for the first season of his professional career.  He has to learn a new scheme.  He hardly played last year in college.  If practicing hard leads to injury, playing hard during games certainly will.  What exactly is the message Jones wants to send here: don’t over-exert yourselves, players? Or, don’t work ‘em too hard, coach?

Wade Phillips should walk into work tomorrow and cold cock Jerry Jones.  Dallas is a talented team that, under Phillips, walks a thin line between winning and utter chaos.  For a team that has demonstrated about as much toughness as Mel Gibson has restraint, the last thing Dallas needs is the return of Camp Cupcake.  Like last training camp (but unlike the Hard Knocks, Cupcake year), the Cowboys were seemingly going about their work with diligence and, almost as importantly, without too much self-inflicted hype.  Shoulder-pad-gate aside,  there was little news being made, which was good news for a team that has a track record of sucking when distracted.  If Bryant goes on to perform poorly, or if the Cowboys struggle out of the gate, the media will feed upon the “should have rested him” comments from Jerry Jones and bury Phillips and the team along with it.  Time will tell if Jones’ genetic condition, which renders him incapable of saying nothing in this situation, will have an impact in how the media treats Phillips in the weeks and months ahead.