Former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks knows the ins and outs of this league, providing keen insight in his notebook. The topics of this edition include:
-- How the Falcons are debunking a myth about team-building.
-- Why the Cowboys could finally unlock Tavon Austin's potential.
-- What's with this new tune Ben Roethlisberger's singing?
But first, a look at the uncertain future of a former All-Pro ...
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Is it over?
That's the question of the day regarding Dez Bryant's future. The 29-year-old carries a résumé that features three Pro Bowl nods, 531 receptions, 73 touchdowns and almost 7,500 receiving yards, but there is speculation No. 88 might have played his last snap in the NFL.
This might catch some by surprise, given Bryant's status as an elite receiver a few years ago, but interest in his services has been lacking since the Dallas Cowboys unceremoniously cut bait a few weeks ago. Sure, the timing of his release -- on the eve of the 2018 NFL Draft -- didn't help his prospects, but the market for the former WR1 presently seems cool as can be.
Evidently, teams have looked at the tape and discovered the same issues that bothered me when I studied Bryant's game over the past year. He is unable to create consistent separation, and his inability to get away from defenders makes life tough on his quarterback. In addition, Bryant is an inconsistent route runner and pass catcher, which makes it tough to depend on him as a No. 1 receiver. I wrote about this stuff during the regular season, and the issues remained prominent when I reviewed Bryant's tape shortly after the season ended. That's why I wasn't surprised to see the Cowboys move on from their former WR1, despite his royalty status within the locker room.
"It was a collective deal,"Cowboys vice president of player personnel Will McClay said Tuesday on ESPN 103.3 FM. "The [inability] to win one-on-one, to win downfield. There was inconsistency as well as some huge things in his play. So what's best moving forward for Dez Bryant [and] the Cowboys, we just made that decision. It's a production-based business."
All that said, I still believe Bryant can help a squad as a role player on the perimeter. Despite the concerns over his diminished speed and explosiveness, he is still an effective weapon in the red zone, as evidenced by his 14 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Measuring 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, he can still overpower smaller defensive backs on jump balls and back-shoulder fades. In addition, Bryant is capable of moving the chains as a possession receiver, particularly on in-breaking routes like slants and digs that allow him to use his big frame to box out defenders at the catch point.
That's why I think a team will eventually sign the veteran to a modest deal, despite some reports suggesting most teams would bypass No. 88 even at the veteran's minimum. While I certainly understand why some executives are pressing the pause button before making a move to sign the emotional receiver, Bryant remains useful. Although I don't believe he is a No. 1 receiver at this stage of his career, I do think he can be a solid secondary option on a team with another established playmaker on the perimeter.
With that in mind, here are a few rosters Bryant could help as a veteran playmaker:
Buffalo Bills: Despite possessing a big personality that might make Bills executives pause, Bryant's talents are a perfect fit for the team's offense. In spite of his declining skills, Dez would arguably be the team's most talented pass catcher (which speaks volumes about the current state of the Bills' WR corps). If Bryant can tone down his personality to fit into the blue-collar culture of Buffalo's locker room, the Bills could get a solid contributor at bargain-basement price.
New York Jets: With Robby Andersonfacing off-field issues and Terrelle Pryor trying to rediscover his game, Bryant could step in as a temporary WR1 for a team in desperate need of an established playmaker on the outside. Bryant's presence as a veteran pass catcher could accelerate Sam Darnold's development if (when) he takes the reins.
Seattle Seahawks: If the 'Hawks are serious about rebuilding their team using the 2011 model that featured a locker room full of ultra-competitive players with chips on their shoulders, Seattle could add Dez to the mix as a possible WR2 or WR3. Bryant's size and strength would make him a nice addition to the receiving corps as a designated red-zone weapon.
Indianapolis Colts: Chris Ballard wants to get more speed and explosiveness on the field, but he also needs to upgrade the supporting cast around Andrew Luck. Although T.Y. Hilton is a Pro Bowl-caliber talent, the Colts lack another established receiving option. Bryant would give them a WR2 to pair opposite Hilton, while also adding some size and muscle to the receiver room.
Washington Redskins: The 'Skins have completely rebuilt their offense with Alex Smith installed as the QB1, but they could use another big-bodied pass catcher on the perimeter -- particularly down in the red zone. Bryant's size and strength would fit in well with a group of pass catchers that already features Jordan Reed, Vernon Davis, Josh Doctson, Paul Richardson and Jamison Crowder.
San Francisco 49ers: Jimmy G was able to elevate the 49ers' pedestrian WR corps with his precise passing from the pocket, but adding another weapon to the arsenal could help the franchise quarterback deliver more Ws in 2018. Bryant is no longer a true WR1, but neither is Pierre Garcon, Marquise Goodwin or Dante Pettis. Thus, the 49ers could use the services of a former All-Pro with a knack for winning 50-50 balls, particularly down near the end zone, when size and leaping ability expand the strike zone for the quarterback.
THE FALCON WAY: Atlanta shows you can build around a high-price QB
There are plenty of ways to build a championship team in the NFL, but the Atlanta Falcons are showing the football world the blueprint for building a title contender around a big-money quarterback.
The Dirty Birds just signed Matt Ryan to a five-year, $150 million contract with $100 million in guarantees, rewarding the QB for routinely playing at a high level and keeping the Falcons in steady contention for most of his decade in the league.
This deal comes after the five-year, $103.75 million extension (with $42 million in guarantees) signed in 2013, which followed a rookie deal that paid him $72 million over six years. That original contract included $34.75 million in guaranteed money, making him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league the moment he first stepped onto an NFL field.
We've heard plenty of skeptics suggest you can't build a consistent winner when you're routinely tossing mega bucks at the quarterback, but the Falcons are debunking that myth. Atlanta has reached the postseason six times in Ryan's 10 seasons, hitting the Super Bowl in Ryan's MVP season of 2016. Thus, it makes sense for the team to back up another Brinks truck into the driveway of a quarterback owning a 95-63 career record.
"Matt is getting what he has earned and we all know the marketplace for a great quarterback," Falcons owner Arthur Blank said Thursday, via ESPN. "League revenues are up, club revenues, new stadiums and the players are the heart of the game. They're the ones on the field and they certainly deserve their fair share."
Blank added that Ryan has been "the model face of the franchise, a great leader and he has embraced our values. He has led us on and off the field."
Those are certainly all of the qualities and characteristics general managers and executives want in a franchise quarterback, particularly one who's making big bucks.
"He doesn't get the love that he should," an NFC personnel director told me. "He's been a good player for a long time. He deserves to get paid."
Here's the trick, though. The Falcons have not only paid Ryan like a franchise quarterback, but they've surrounded him with enough A-level talent to allow him to succeed as the bus driver. The team boasts a loaded wide receiver corps, with arguably the best WR1 in the game (Julio Jones) and a talented supporting cast of playmakers on the perimeter (Mohamed Sanu and Justin Hardy) that's augmented by the arrival of first-round pick Calvin Ridley. At running back, the Falcons have a devastating 1-2 punch: Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman are both capable of running through defenses on inside or outside runs or blowing past defenders as crafty pass catchers out of the backfield. Not to mention, the Falcons have routinely upgraded the offensive line to handle the various fronts and pass rushers poised to harass Ryan in the pocket.
That's exactly how you're supposed to build around the quarterback in today's game if you follow the model previously established by the Indianapolis Colts with Peyton Manning under center. The Colts routinely paid pass catchers, running backs and offensive tackles, ensuring they could score points in bunches and play with a lead. This led the Colts to also invest big money in pass rushers, so the defense could deliver sacks when opponents were forced to chase points by airing it out. Indy would fill in the rest of its roster with draft picks and low-level free agents to stay below the salary-cap constraints.
Looking at the composition of the Falcons' squad, the model is eerily similar, with Atlanta spending solid dough and/or first-round picks on pass catchers (Jones, Sanu and Ridley), running back (Freeman), offensive tackle (Jake Matthews) and pass rushers (Takk McKinley and Vic Beasley). They are well-positioned to keep their stars in place, while also lavishing an enormous contract on No. 2.
THREE AND OUT: Quick takes on big developments across the league
1) Why Tavon Austin could flourish in the Cowboys' backfield. When Dallas acquired Tavon Austin over draft weekend, the initial reports suggested Austin could serve as another slot receiver. But that's not an area of need for the Cowboys, who already possess
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