Saturday 24 February 2018 10:48, UK
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant has vowed to “shut a lot of people up” in 2018.
The 29-year-old is coming off three consecutive injury-riddled seasons in which he hasn't broken the 1,000-yard or 10-touchdown barrier. Last season, Bryant averaged a career-low 12.1 yards per reception.
But Bryant is adamant he will be back to his best next season.
"I promise you, I'm going to shut a lot of people up," Bryant told Dallas radio station 105.3 The Fan on Friday.
Bryant has a cap hit of $16.5m in 2018, the third-largest among wide receivers in the league, which has led to speculation the Cowboys could cut him if he does not agree to take a pay cut.
Earlier this week Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones, who is the son of owner Jerry, admitted the decision on whether to keep Bryant is a difficult one.
"We all know this is a business where everybody has to be accountable. Certainly everybody knows that. That's a tough one," Jones told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
"Certainly we're going to be grinding it out and trying to determine what is in the best interest of our business."
Bryant was coy when asked about the possibility of agreeing to a pay cut.
"That's a discussion for me, for myself and my agent and Mr Jones and the Joneses, the Dallas Cowboys," said Bryant, who finished with 69 catches for 838 yards and six touchdowns last season.
The 6ft 2in, 220-pound receiver said injuries limited his performance in 2017. He did not miss a game during the season, but he said knee tendinitis affected his ability to dominate.
"I don't even want it to sound like an excuse, but it is the truth," Bryant said. "It's like one thing that I know - [athletic trainer Jim Maurer] will tell you - I hate going in that training room. I don't like going in that training room, especially when I needed to be in that training room.
"But this time around, I want to take care of my body. I want to get it all the way right. I want it to be right. I promise you I ain't having nobody questioning me again. This is what I love, and I accept everything that's coming my way right now. That's OK. That's fine. I just want to work. That's all I want to do.
"I want to work. I want to stay out of the way. I want to control what I can control and I want my respect. That's it."
When asked he is ready to consider playing for a team other than Dallas, Bryant replied: "No. Hell no! It doesn't seem right, it wouldn't be right."
