OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Dez Bryant wants to play two more seasons, but it looks like he won’t be with the Baltimore Ravens.
In a series of tweets on Tuesday night, the wide receiver explained why he never broke out of a limited role with the Ravens last season.
“I realized Baltimore wasn’t the place for me,” Bryant wrote. “No bad blood. This is their way of doing things, so you have to respect it.”
Bryant, 32, returned after two seasons and totaled six catches for 47 yards and two touchdowns in six games with Baltimore.
A three-time Pro Bowl selection during his time with the Dallas Cowboys, Bryant lacked explosiveness over Baltimore and never opened consistently. He finished as recipient no. 4 for the worst attack in the league, ranking under Marquise Brown, Miles Boykin and Willie Snead IV on the depth chart. Bryant managed a total of 129 instant catches, ie 21.5 per game.
Responding to a fan’s comment that he should have been given a better chance, Bryant wrote: “It’s hard. I’ve been gone for almost three years. I showed my skills to the end. [Ravens coach John] Harbaugh asked if I was ready to play because he thought I was ready … You have to learn the playing card … the QB chemistry has to be handy. “
Asked if his chemistry was stopped with defender Lamar Jackson, Bryant wrote, “Our chemistry was good on and off the field. But there were guys in front of me who understood offensive concepts better than I did. You can’t put in danger this “.
Bryant became the second Pro Bowl receiver to miss two full seasons and return to the NFL since the 1970 merger, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Josh Gordon was the first.
Ravens first worked for Bryant in August, but left without a contract because he was told to improve his conditioning. Baltimore brought him back and enrolled him in the training team on October 28th.
After being picked up twice from the training team, Bryant was added to the 53-man roster on November 28th. He never eclipsed more than 28 yards receiving in one game and was kept without a catch in the Ravens’ two playoff games.
“I didn’t mind playing time,” Bryant wrote. “I had fun. I met some great teammates, guys I feel like I’ll keep in touch for a long time. I’m grateful for the opportunity Baltimore gave me.”
The Ravens were not expected to bring Bryant back. Modernizing the large group of free agency receivers and the project was considered one of Baltimore’s priorities.
Bryant, general election no. 24 of the 2010 draft, played eight seasons for the Cowboys. In 113 games, he caught 531 passes for 7,459 yards and a record of Cowboys 73 touchdown catches before his release after the 2017 season.
When asked if he intends to play in 2021, Bryant wrote: “I plan to play for another 2 years and that’s for me.”