It took Dez Bryant more than two years to find his way back into NFL action, but he was able to do that last season with the Baltimore Ravens.
After a long wait to return, Bryant said on Twitter on Tuesday that it didn’t take long to recognize that the Ravens were not a good fit for him, and although his time in Baltimore didn’t work, the former Pro Bowl quit play two more seasons before retiring.
Asked about Ravens’ offensive coordinator, Greg Roman, being bad for the careers of quarterback Lamar Jackson and wide receiver Marquise Brown, Bryant responded about his individual situation.
“I’m going to talk about my personal experience,” Bryant tweeted. “I was in a position where everything was already established. I took the opportunity to get it right. I realized that Quick Baltimore was not the place for me … no bad blood, it’s their way of doing things, so you have to respect -over there.”
Now, probably looking for a new franchise to call home, Bryant later wrote that he plans to play for two more seasons before hanging up his boots forever.
“I plan on playing another 2 years and that’s it for me,” tweeted Bryant.
One season after establishing an all-time NFL racing brand, the 2020 Ravens racing game – led by Jackson, JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards – led the league in the race again en route to a Super Wild Card Weekend victory against Tennessee Titans before falling in the AFC Divisional Round. Hardly a receiver-friendly scheme, it seems it was not very comfortable for Bryant.
The free agent’s recipient made it clear that “he doesn’t have bad blood”, as mentioned earlier, and thanked the club for giving him a chance.
“No OTAs, no mini camp and arriving in the middle of the season is not normal,” tweeted Bryant. “I didn’t bother with the playing time. I had fun meeting some great teammates. Guys, I feel like I’m going to be in touch for a long time. I’m grateful for the opportunity that Baltimore has given me.”
Bryant signed to the New Orleans Saints in November 2018, but only a few days later broke the Achilles tendon and was lost for the season. It has been difficult to find suitors for Bryant since he was cut by the Dallas Cowboys in April 2018, after a trio of seasons in which his productivity declined.
Therefore, it can be assumed that any team willing to bring the 1.8m high, 100 pound physical receiver into the fold would be the right fit. Clearly, that was not the case with Bryant.
Bryant signed a one-year contract with Baltimore and worked on the active squad of the training team. He produced six receptions for 47 yards and two touchdowns in six games. Bryant’s most memorable moment in his stint at the Ravens was probably deactivated shortly before the start of a game on Tuesday with his former team, the Cowboys, after the receiver announced via Twitter that he had tested positive for COVID-19.
Shortly afterwards, the team announced that Bryant had been scratched and Bryant continued on Twitter, stating that he would “go ahead and end the matter for the rest of the season” and later change his tone to “Yes, I’m coming … I’m being smart. “
Over the past three seasons, Bryant has signed with two teams and played six games. Now, after realizing that Baltimore was the wrong fit, the old All-Pro is looking for the right again.