By Mike Piellucci
FOXSportsSouthwest.com
Speaking to the media on Wednesday for the first time since the Dallas Cowboys' loss to the New Orleans Saints last week, Dez Bryant described himself as a passionate player and did not apologize for his sideline outburst.
The rookie wide receiver was seen yelling and pointing at his position coach, Ray Sherman, in the fourth quarter after being targeted on an incomplete third-down pass. Ultimately, he did not believe his actions were out of line.
"That's the type of guy I am about football," Bryant said. "I felt like there was nothing wrong [with my reaction]. I wasn't doing anything wrong. I felt like it was the game. It was the game bringing that out of me.
"I'm emotional about everything. That's what you've got to have. It's just like Coach [Jason] Garrett tells us all the time in practice. There are three things to the game: emotion, passion and you've got to have enthusiasm. I felt like I have those things."
The Thanksgiving game was an afternoon unlike anything Bryant had seen in his brief pro career. With the Saints' game plan designed to keep the ball out of his hands, Bryant was held without a reception for the first time.
Despite that, Bryant insisted that he was not bothered by not getting a catch and that the increased attention was fine by him if it allowed his teammates to get open.
"Me not touching the ball was not a factor," Bryant said. "I knew how they were playing me. There was nothing I could do about it. There was nothing anybody else could do about it except try to get through it."
Garrett, for his part, was not only unconcerned about his young star's conduct but praised his competitiveness, going so far as to compare Bryant to Garrett's former teammate Michael Irvin. According to the coach, the media took the incident much more seriously than the players.
"I don't see that as a negative," Garrett said. "Obviously, with any player, you want to make sure that he's focused on the task at hand. In no way was it to me -- and I don't think to the offensive guys or anybody else on the team -- a distraction."
Like this? Want more? Follow Mike on Twitter @mikelikessports
