Dez Bryant's returns diminishing

IRVING, Texas - Jerry Jones once joked that he was involved in all aspects of the Dallas Cowboys' socks to jocks. "

On Friday, the Cowboys owner and general manager said the investigator to his list of job titles.

"Tyron, how old were you when you started work on building cleaning business?" Jones asked.

Tyron Smith, the Cowboys' first-round pick, said he was 4 when he began working with his father. Sometimes, Smith said, he went to work immediately after school until he was back the next day.

"Growing up is a way of life struggle," said Smith. "He taught me the meaning of hard work."

Jones then asked Smith if the 20-year-old knew the value of a dollar. Smith simply said yes.

"It's a big point here," Jones said. "We were really impressed by the kind of background he had."

Maybe Jones did not do so voluntarily, but how could you not look about at last year's first round, Dez Bryant, while the whereabouts?

Last month, Bryant was tossed from NorthPark Mall in Dallas after a minor run-in with security. We also learned suits totaling approximately $ 800 000 were filed against Bryant. On February 8, 2010, he spent as much as $ 144,000, according to court documents, which makes the $ 55,000 dinner tab rookie when he picked up a big piece look like a pittance. He settled a suit for $ 246,000 with a jeweler based in New York earlier this month. Another function is more than $ 600,000 for purchases of jewelry and tickets to sporting events.

Clearly, Bryant did not know the value of the dollar.

And we must ask if he understands what is at stake, as it begins its second season.

Thursday, Jones said he spoke with Bryant by telephone and said the two would be meeting face-to-face Friday. Bryant never showed up, although Jones took the blame, saying he has not had time to meet due to discussions with the lockout of the league office.

"I was able to lead and tell him about what I want him, 99 percent of it with my live talk [Thursday], whereas this would have been smiling at each other" Jones said. "Really, we could get through things where I wanted it to be since this is the first opportunity I had to talk to him."

This is not what Jones said on Thursday, so it looks like the team allows Bryant.