Dez blames 'Garrett guys' for release, wants to stay in NFC East
The Dallas Cowboys offered a warm statement about Dez Bryant after releasing the eight-year veteran Friday, but the franchise's all-time leader in receiving touchdowns didn't respond with the same fuzzy feelings.
"Being in the division is a huge possibility, it's something that I want," Bryant told NFL Network's Jane Slater in a TV interview about his new status as a free agent. "It's personal. I'm tired of being the scapegoat and I'm going to keep proving that on and off the field."
Bryant, who said he would've accepted a pay cut if asked to by Dallas, went on a tweeting spree after the news of his release came down. Among the posts that quickly gained traction was one that suggested Bryant was disliked by Dallas' coaches because he called them out much like they often called players out.
"I asked someone to be a man about things a long time ago and he couldn't," Bryant said in the interview, though he wouldn't identify the person. "I'm not talking about no player. I'm trying my best to sugarcoat it, but I can't."
The three-time Pro Bowler added that he believes there are "Garrett guys" - referring to head coach Jason Garrett - in the Cowboys' locker room who worked against him. Among them, he suggested, are some team captains.
"I won't put no names out, but they know and I want them to know on this air that I know," Bryant said. "I'll shoot them a text message and let them know. Little do they know is, they can wear that 'C' all they want to, but in that locker room, they know who they run and they talk to. They know who they communicate with. Everybody knows where the real love is at. I'm not throwing anybody under the bus, but that's the difference between me and them."
Bryant was one of the NFL's most dominant receivers from 2012-14, but looked a step slower last season while putting up 838 yards and six touchdowns across 16 contests.
Though he'd like to stay in the division and play against the Cowboys twice a year, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported that none of the NFC East clubs have interest in bringing Bryant aboard at the moment.