National Football League

Cowboys' Bryant shouts back at his critics as NFL minicamps roll on

Published Jun. 17, 2015 3:00 p.m. ET

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Sid Saraf

Watch what you say around Dez Bryant.

The Dallas Cowboys are in the midst of minicamp and their star receiver isn't around as he's unsatisfied with being slapped with the franchise tag and wants a longterm contract. Fair enough. However, there some people out there -- cough, fans, cough -- who aren't happy with Dez sitting out. Some have even gone so far as to call the talented wideout selfish.

And Bryant isn't having that.

Some might disagree, but it's hard to argue his stance. Every snap an NFL player takes could be their last. You can't blame anyone for wanting to make as much money as possible while they can. This is a dangerous business.

Now, let's see what else is going around the league during Wednesday's minicamps.

PANTHERS

Is there a reason to worry?

Second-year wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin just returned from a hamstring injury. Now, he's suffered another one that will keep him out of the rest of minicamp. Head coach Ron Rivera has a theory as to why this happened.

"It could be as simple as weight," Rivera told the Charlotte Observer. Benjamin, already a big man who played last season at 245 pounds, showed up for offseason workouts 8-9 pounds overweight. "He did come in a little heavy and he had to work himself into shape. Or diet or something. We’re going to take a look at it and make sure it’s not a chronic issue with him. He’s too good a football player to have on the sideline.”

Benjamin will return for training camp in July.

Elsewhere, on the practice field, a pair of fights broke out in the hot weather. First, it was Amini Silatolu and Jason Trusnick taking a swing at each other, then it was Michael Oher and Kony Ealy going to the ground in another brawl.

However, QB Cam Newton ended the day on a positive note, playing catch with a young fan named Matt:

BUCCANEERS

Demar Dotson isn't dumb. The starting right tackle had been absent from OTAs because he wants a new contract. But, when minicamps started, the man was out there.

And why?

"I didn't want to lose money," Dotson told the Tampa Tribune. "That's like a $100,000. I don't have $100,000 to lose. I want to keep my money. That was the only way to keep negotiations going during these six weeks before training camp."

ESPN pointed out that Dotson would have actually lost $80K instead of $100K, but his point remains. The team is willing to extend Dotson's deal, but refused to discuss it while he was away from the team.

BILLS

Good defense or bad offense?

Matthew Fairburn of Syracuse.com tallied up some numbers from Buffalo's 11 on 11 session on Wednesday. Out of 22 dropbacks by Bills' quarterbacks, the Bills D came up with eight sacks, an interception and allowed just four completions.

Only one completion went for longer than 10 yards.

The biggest "highlight" of the morning? Maybe it was QB Matt Cassel -- possibly the Bills' starter in 2015 -- overthrowing star receiver Sammy Watkins on a deep pass.

BROWNS

Let's talk about Johnny Manziel.

The second-year quarterback looked good during two two-minute drill of Wednesday's practice, according to Jeff Schudel of the News-Herald. That's fine and good.

However, he made the most news after practice, when he declared that his signature move -- the money sign -- will not be back next year.

Wow, maybe we really are seeing a new-and-improved Johnny Football.

EAGLES

Chip Kelly broke his silence about Evan Mathis -- the respected offensive lineman who was released by the team last week.

And Kelly had a simple reason for why the two parties parted ways: money.

"There was a money issue and we just didn't come to terms on the money. ... It was a money decision and we just weren't on the same page with the money," Kelly said to phillyvoice.com.

Kelly also said that he and Eagles general manager Ed Marynowitz had been in communication with Mathis' agent Drew Rosenhaus and attempted to get a deal done, but failed to come to an agreement, which is why Kelly pulled the trigger and cut Mathis -- a former Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro -- loose.

"Evan works really hard," Kelly said. "We just weren't on the same page with the money."

On the pratice field, it was tight end Zach Ertz standing tall and making several impressive catches, according to Jeff McClane of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

COWBOYS

Big D won't have safety JJ Wilcox for the rest of minicamp as he's still dealing with a lingering foot injury. The team is being cautious and won't let him pratice on Wednesday or Thursday.

SAINTS

CJ Spiller is turning heads.

The new running back in New Orleans has drawn a lot of praise from none other than defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who says Spiller is "special with his speed ... he's got home run speed."

Head coach Sean Payton agrees, as he's lined up Spiller all over the football field on offense and on special teams so far this spring, according to NFL.com.

"He's defintely a return guy that we view (can contribute), whether it's punts or kickoffs," Payton said. "He has experience at that. He's explosive. He's a versatile player and we're going to look to get him the ball in a number of ways, and a returner is certainly one of those ways."

Spiller figures to be in the mix in the backfield with Mark Ingram in 2015.

JAGUARS

Blake Bortles is impressed.

The second-year quarterback loves how one of his targets on the outside, wide receiver Allen Robinson, is developing.

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