Cowboys Release WR Dez Bryant

Despite being the Cowboys leading receiver last season with 838 receiving yards and six touchdown receptions, the Dallas Cowboys have decided to part ways with Dez Bryant.   To say this move was necessary is quite the understatement considering the issues that Bryant has endured the past couple of seasons.  Consider this, Bryant hasn’t been the same player that he once was when he broke into the league in 2010, and has simply been steadily declining since singing a five-year $70 million dollar contract three years ago.

He hasn't gone over the 1,000-yard mark since 2014, was tied for third in the league last year for dropped passes, and he cost the team a whopping $17 million last season.  Combine this with his temper tantrums on the field when he didn't get his way, and now is the time to say goodbye to the once prominent receiver.  There comes a time when a team must part ways with a player who despite having tremendous success in the past, has become more of a distraction than anything, and it would have made little sense to pay Byrant the $12.5 million that he was due next season.

Many probably felt that Dez would end his career as a Cowboy, and at the very least, would stay aboard for another couple of seasons considering that the Dallas wideouts for next season are Allan Hurns, Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley, and Ryan Switzer.  Williams, Beasley and Switzer had just 85 more yards combined than Bryant had last season to put it into perspective.  Jason Witten is 35 and towards the end of his career as well.  With this move, the Cowboys will have to draft at least a couple of wide receivers and perhaps go after an additional one via free agency as well.

In the end, Cowboys fans should never forget what Dez meant to the team in the past, and accomplished over the years, but in the constantly changing NFL, sometimes loyalty must be set aside and it is important to do what is best for the organization as a whole.  This just so happened to be the move that the Cowboys had to make.