'He Did It For His Bro': Tragic Memory Inspires Michael Gallup in Cowboys Win at Detroit
DETROIT – It was exactly a year ago when the Dallas Cowboys were in Atlanta as Michael Gallup learned of his brother Andrew's suicide. The tragedy was on his mind Sunday in Detroit. The tragedy is always on his mind.
“Obviously it’s going to be tough around this time every year,” Gallup said after his Cowboys beat Detroit 35-27, a game in which the young receiver contributed in ways both solid and spectacular. “His birthday was Nov. 10, so it’s always a hard one. But to go out here and have fun and do what I love ... he knows that I’ve always loved this game, and he was up there watching me. So it’s a good feeling to be able to do that for him and have the family watch as well.”
In an effort dedicated to his brother, Gallup was good for a career-high nine catches for 148 yards in a breathtaking effort inside Ford Field.
Gallup’s provided consecutive catches of 12 and 14 yards to set up Dallas' early field goal, and then late in the second quarter made a gymnastic 41-yard catch to set up a TD.
QB Dak Prescott piled up numbers here (his third 400-yard passing day of the season ties Tony Romo’s franchise record, and in NFL history, only Dan Marino, Peyton Manning and Ryan Fitzpatrick have had four 400-yard games in a single year) and did so with the help of Gallup, who carried a larger load with Amari Cooper slowed by a knee bruise. He was so great that even his mistakes worked out well; Gallup admitted that his juggling catch came only after having run the wrong route.
"I'm proud of him,'' said Prescott. "I know his brother’s proud of him. When you’re a ball player, being able to go out there on that field and be at peace, it just allows you to be who you are.''
Added Cooper: “He did it for his bro. That explains a lot. How he really wanted that ball, it explains a lot. He did it for his bro.”
