Ex Ravens WR Dez Bryant Clarifies Turning Down Huge Deal with Baltimore
It's easy to forget, but longtime NFL receiver Dez Bryant finished his career with the Baltimore Ravens. He signed to the team's practice squad in the latter half of the 2020 season and appeared in six games, totaling just six receptions for 47 yards and two touchdowns.
However, there were whispers about Bryant coming to Baltimore much earlier than he actually did. Following Bryant's release from the Dallas Cowboys in April of 2018, rumors circulated about the Ravens offering Bryant a multiyear deal. ESPN's Ed Werder reported at the time that Bryant turned down the deal because he instead wanted a one-year contract, which would allow him to sign a bigger contract the following offseason.
According to Bryant though, that's not what happened. The former NFL star took to Twitter on Friday to clear up the situation, more than five years after it occurred.
Rather than wanting a shorter contract, Bryant instead cited his mental health as his reason for turning down the Ravens offer. He says he wanted to get his mental health in check before returning to play.
"Fans across the world knew how much I truly loved the game," Bryant wrote. "I realized it wasn’t more important than my well being and helping my fellow athletes who look like me truly understand who they are and their worth."
Bryant did eventually sign during the 2018 season, joining the New Orleans Saints that November. Unfortunately, he tore his achilles two days after signing with the Saints and never played a game for them.
During his time with the Cowboys, Bryant was one of the top receivers in football. In eight seasons in Dallas, Bryant racked up 7,459 yards and 73 touchdowns, earning three Pro Bowl selections. He quickly became the favorite target for former Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo during the latter half of his career.
While Bryant was unable to recapture his past success with the Ravens, it may have been a different story if he signed earlier.
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