In attempting to return to the NFL after five years away due to a league suspension, ex-Las Vegas Raiders receiver Martavis Bryant had some hope that if given a chance, he could show his old potential. He did get a look this fall, though not from the Raiders, but from the Cowboys, who signed him to their practice squad. But he was unable to return to the field, and Dallas released the former fourth-round pick on Thursday as part of a flurry of roster moves.
Bryant had hoped for redemption after a turbulent year with the Raiders in 2018. The Raiders acquired him from the Steelers in April 2018, but he was released on September 1 of that year after being suspended. After the league allowed him to play during his appeal, the Raiders re-signed him on September 12. Bryant made his Raiders debut the following week, recording four receptions for 30 yards.
He appeared in eight games for the Raiders, catching 19 passes for 266 yards before his substance abuse issues forced the league to suspend him indefinitely. Bryant signed with the Cowboys in November after his suspension was lifted in October.
Raiders Coach Jon Gruden: ‘White Tiger Came Out Today’
Bryant appeared to be the type of case that the Raiders had become known for: taking misbehaving outcasts from other organizations and turning them into productive players who avoided outside punishment.
Martavis Bryant, the Raiders’ coach at the time, was described as a “rare beast” who was magnificent when he showed up but couldn’t be counted on to show up consistently.
“You go to the zoo 12 or 13 times, and the white tiger is always in his cage.” “But the white tiger came out today,” Gruden said after the enigmatic Raiders receiver put in a good practice. “Martavis Bryant appeared. I’m not sure if you understand the analogy, but he sometimes comes out to play and sometimes he doesn’t. It’s great to see him because he’s one of a kind, like the white tiger.”
And if he’d been given a chance, he might have come out a little more in his return to the NFL. Dallas, on the other hand, has CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, and Brandin Cooks at receiver, with young Jalbert backing them up. Bryant never got a chance to play because the Cowboys’ receiver corps remained healthy.
Bryant, Martavis Visited ‘Really Dark Places’
Still, as an ex-Raiders player and a human being, it’s easy to root for Martavis Bryant to get another chance. He’s 31 now, and while he claims he hasn’t lost a step, his chances of playing again have nearly vanished. He admitted his mistakes in the past and worked hard to get sober and return to football.
Bryant admitted that his time away from the NFL was trying. He had issues with his mental health.
“Man, I went to places you couldn’t even imagine, some really dark places and times.” I really don’t want to talk about it because I worked so hard to get through those times. But it was a difficult time for me.”
Bryant prepared for a return to the league by playing in the Arena League and the XFL. He also had to persuade Roger Goodell’s office that he was ready to return to the NFL.
“First off, it started with the NFL, I had to go through six months of testing, you know, counselors, doing a lot of things they asked me to do,” Bryant was quoted as saying. “My agent contacted a number of teams and informed them that I would be reinstated soon.” Dallas was intrigued.”
