Dez Bryant Loses His Temper and Assaults His Own Mother

The talent of Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant is undeniable, but he must solve his personal problems first. (Matthew Emmons)

From a purely talent standpoint, Dez Bryant is one of the greatest wide receivers of this century. His mixture of speed, agility, and strength make for a virtually unstoppable target for any quarterback. The problem is that his character choices and personal problems have led to distractions off the field and underachievement on it.

Dez Bryant's talent first caught the widespread attention of fans during his time at Oklahoma State. There was play after play that talent wise showed he was a man among boys. Other than being irresponsible, Bryant largely didn't run into any trouble with the Cowboys. Entering the 2010 NFL Draft, Bryant's talent was one of the biggest topics of discussion. While he was slated as high as #1 overall in some mock drafts, he quickly fell down the draft board, as it became apparent that many teams were concerned with his rough background. Finally, the Dallas Cowboys decided to trade up to select Bryant. They could only dream of the potential of pairing him with their starting quarterback Tony Romo.

Now two seasons later, Bryant has had two good, but underwhelming seasons with the Cowboys. Many analysts and fans see the potential and realize that he isn't really living up to it. The dedication to improving as a football player simply isn't there. The problem is that Bryant has been making more headlines from off the field issues than for his play on the field.

The laundry list of incidents is long, but I will focus on a few. Bryant and his friends were banned from a Dallas mall for inappropriate dress and language. He was sued for having unpaid debts. He was detained by the police over an incident in a Miami nightclub. He has also been fined by the Cowboys for numerous team violations, such as being late for team meetings. The latest incident though is the biggest to date.

Saturday afternoon, Bryant got into a verbal altercation with his mother and physically assaulted her. Angela Bryant told the police that her son Dez hit her in the face with a ball cap, pulled her hair, tore her shirt and bra, and repeatedly struck her hands and arms when she tried to push him away. Her testimony was confirmed by witnesses and bruising that appeared several days later.

I can't truly comprehend what Dez Bryant has gone through in his life. His mother was only 14 years old when he was born. She later went to prison, and Dez lived in a multitude of rough situations. I understand that had to be difficult and that it affects who he is today, but there is no excuse for assaulting a woman, especially one's one mother. Dez has personal issues, such as his temper. These problems are affecting him both on and off the football field.

The Cowboys need to decide whether or not they are committed to Bryant. If they truly are, they need to begin seeking to help him with his issues. Bryant needs to surround himself with better friends, put himself in better situations, and seek the help he needs to deal with his problems. The NFL does not need another Terrell Owens or Chad Ochocinco. Very few teams have the patience left to put up with that type of behavior.

With training camp just a few weeks away, Bryant could face additional discipline from either or both the Cowboys and NFL. I hope he learns from this experience and seeks the help he needs. It is so sad to see someone with so much talent and potential, struggle and fail to meet expectations. Dez Bryant just needs help and encouragement in the right direction. I hope he finds it.