OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Dez Bryant wants to play two more seasons, but apparently he won’t be with the Baltimore Ravens.
In a series of tweets Tuesday night, the wide receiver explained why he never came out of a limited role with the Ravens last season.
“I realized Baltimore wasn’t the fast place for me,” Bryant wrote. “There’s no bad blood. That’s their way of doing things, so you have to respect it.”
Bryant, 32, returned after two seasons and added six catches over 47 yards and two touchdowns in six games with Baltimore.
A three-time Pro Bowl selection during his stint with the Dallas Cowboys, Bryant lacked explosiveness with Baltimore and never opened steadily. He finished as the No. 4 receiver in the league’s worst passing attack, ranking below Marquise Brown, Miles Boykin and Willie Snead IV in the depth box. Bryant scored a total of 129 snapshots, or 21.5 per game.
In response to a fan comment that should have given him a better chance, Bryant wrote, “It’s hard. I’ve been out for almost three years. I brought my skills to the point. [Ravens coach John] Harbaugh asked me if I was ready to play because I thought I was ready … You have to learn the game book … the chemistry with the QB has to be on point. “
When asked if his chemistry was offside with quarterback Lamar Jackson, Bryant wrote, “Our chemistry was good on and off the field. But it was the guys before me who understood the offensive concepts. better than me. You can’t put him in danger. “
Bryant became the second Pro Bowl receiver to miss two full seasons and return to the NFL since the 1970 merger, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Josh Gordon was the first.
The Ravens first worked with Bryant in August, but left without a contract because they told him to improve his conditioning. Baltimore brought him back and signed him to the training squad on October 28th.
After being elevated twice from the training squad, Bryant was signed by the 53-man roster on November 28th. He never eclipsed over 28 receiving yards in a game and remained without a catch in both Ravens playoff games.
“I didn’t mind playing time,” Bryant wrote. “I had fun. I met some great teammates, guys I feel like I’ll be in touch for a long time. I’m grateful for the opportunity Baltimore gave me.”
The Ravens were not expected to recover Bryant. Upgrading the wide receiver group in free agency and drafting were considered one of Baltimore’s priorities.
Bryant, the No. 24 general pick in the 2010 draft, played eight seasons for the Cowboys. In 113 games, he caught 531 passes for 7,459 yards and a record 73 touchdown boats before his release after the 2017 season.
When asked if he planned to play in 2021, Bryant wrote, “I plan to play 2 more years and that’s all for me.”