Former Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant fights for yardage during a game against the Atlanta Falcons in November. Photo by David Tulis/UPI |
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Tony Romo knows a thing or two about Dez Bryant during their seven seasons with the Dallas Cowboys.
With the wide receiver looking for a new club, Romo went to bat for his former teammate following his U.S. Open qualifying round on Monday at Gleneagles Country Club in Plano, Texas.
"There's a ton of teams he could help," Romo said, per ESPN. "One thing, I don't know how many teams will do their homework on it, but Dez is a good teammate and I think sometimes that might get lost in the way that the emotional aspect of things.
"If I was talking to any of the GMs or coaches, I would tell them he's not going to hurt the locker room in any possible way. He's going to come out and he'll be a great teammate when he gets there. I think he'll have a couple options here soon."
Bryant, who was released by the Cowboys on April 13, expressed his desire to remain in the NFC East. He reportedly turned down a multiyear offer from the Baltimore Ravens prior to the draft in a bid to find the right fit on a one-year deal that could help secure a bigger contract in 2019.
Dallas added wideouts Allen Hurns and Deonte Thompson in the offseason before selecting Michael Gallup in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. The group joins Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley and Noah Brown on the Cowboys' roster.
Bryant had a team-leading 69 receptions for 838 yards and six touchdowns with the Cowboys in 2017. The 29-year-old has gone a career-worst 23 regular-season games without a 100-yard performance.
Since signing a five-year, $70 million contract in 2015, Bryant has failed to record a 1,000-yard season or reel in more than eight touchdown receptions in a season.
Bryant was a touchdown machine in the first half of his career with the Cowboys, hauling in 41 scoring passes in a three-season span, capped by a career-high 16 in 2014. He was named a First-Team All-Pro selection that year.
During that spectacular run from 2012-14, Bryant also averaged 91 receptions and put up at least 1,233 receiving yards in each of those seasons.