Who is Desmond Bryant?
by Spirals galore on Mar 11, 2010 6:31 PM PST
23 comments
Some time ago, I referenced a last-year article from LA Times on Desmond Bryant, a distant cousin of Chester McGlockton. With Gerard Warren's departure today, the media focus shifted to him, and I am sure much more details about him will emerge. Here is the article:
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An Ivy Leaguer passes through the looking glass and tumbles into the land of Al Davis, a mad circus of renegade athletes and near-pathological fans adorned in spikes and chains.
"Yeah," Bryant says with a chuckle. "Seems a little strange."
Except the big guy with the baby face doesn't quite fit the Harvard stereotype, not with his baggy shorts and flip-flops and a wad of chewing tobacco stuffed in his lip.
As he speaks, a different sort of tale emerges.
Through the first three games of the NFL season, Bryant has worked himself into the rotation as a backup defensive tackle, not bad for an undrafted free agent who wasn't expected to make the league.
"He's a terrific player," Coach Tom Cable said. "The more he learns how to play the double-team, the better he gets."
If he seems like a novelty -- only a few Harvard alumni currently play in the NFL -- there are two things you should know:
No. 1, Bryant is, indeed, educated and articulate in a quiet sort of way.
No. 2, He always wanted to play professional football and has always focused a great deal of his intellect on that goal.
(Editor's Note: In order to continue reading the rest of this article you will need to click on the link that Spirals provided to the LA Times article. We can't post the entire article due to copywrite infringement. I did keep this much up because it is a great read, and thank you spirals for taking the time to post it here. Cheers - Raymond)
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Great Read!
I really like this guy! His pure size and strength is exciting, not ot mention his work ethic and abilitu. I cant wait to see him get more PT. Im not sure where he would excell the most though, Id love to see him put on 20-30 more pounds. Then hed be a huge DT, But right now, he looks like a 3-4 DE.
In Bruce We Trust
More current on Desmond (I already posted it in asnwer to Scrivley's question)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/raiders/detail?entry_id=58934
[Warren’s] departure, first predicted by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, clears the way for yet another young player to get more snaps.
Dez Bryant, and not the stud receiver from Oklahoma State. The Raiders’ Desmond Bryant was an undrafted rookie out of Harvard who steadily worked his way into the defensive line rotation.
Bryant had 32 tackles — within three of Warren, an every-game starter, and a forced fumble. Only two rookie tackles had more stops. Raw out of college, the coaching staff loved his high ceiling. He’s already been in Alameda this offseason working with new defensive line coach Mike Waufle.
They still need to add depth to the tackle rotation, with William Joseph a free agent and Warren out. But Bryant is very much in the mix for increased playing time.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/raiders/detail?entry_id=58934#ixzz0hvbw0plL
by Spirals galore on Mar 11, 2010 7:12 PM PST up reply actions
So this gives us Kelly and Bryant and DT
Another monster DT to rotate in and clog up holes wouldnt be so bad. Im just not sure on who that should be. Either Terrence Cody, Torell Troup or my personal favorite, Linval Jospeh
In Bruce We Trust
Thanks for posting!
Looks like our Raiders night have had a pretty decent draft considering the jury is way out on HB and Mitchell (I’m trying quite hard not to give up on these guys even though I spit at the TV at those picks during the draft last year). Love Shaughnessy and think Bryant may trun out to be pretty good as well. Remix is right about Bryant’s size but he’ll grow some yet.
Thanks - I've been watching the guy for some time
and was really excited for him today when they cut Warren.
by Spirals galore on Mar 11, 2010 7:33 PM PST up reply actions
I'm Glad he gets more playing time.
I want to see more from him. I don’t know a lot about him, but I’m willing to try him, especially with all of the praise he is getting.
by NFLanalyzerfromhome on Mar 11, 2010 7:33 PM PST up reply actions
I am sure a lot more will come out
and hope he does well. Btw, just watched The Express, a movie about Ernie Davis (the first black Heisman recipient); Ernie’s smile and demeanor reminded me of Bryant’s. Hope they are alike in all other respects, too.
by Spirals galore on Mar 11, 2010 10:19 PM PST up reply actions
Great post, Spirals. I've loved Desmond from the get go, and sensed he was never your typical Ivy leaguer
He’ll be a Raider great for a lot of years; he’ll blossom when he masters beating double teams, into an NFL elite talent, and no one will say they predicted it, except maybe for Al…
"If your only ambition in life, is to be a better person; well, that's just the best ambition you can have..." Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew
i can see him being a wicked end, even at 290.
running a 4.9 40 at his size would just over power guys and he would be way to quick. i would like to see him take some snaps on the edge this year just for the curiosity.
by rodeosnake12 on Mar 11, 2010 11:03 PM PST up reply actions
An interesting article on the likelihood of pros to join the ranks of the bankrupt after retiring
This article states, some 80% of NFL retirees are “flirting with bankruptcy” within two years of retiring. We blast them for the millions they’re asking for. I do too, especially when they play like Stanford Routt, and guys like that.
While Richard Seymour is a huge price tag, if you look at the contributions over his career, it’s really the provisions in the trade, and rules put forth by the NFLPA to benefit players, that finds Big Dick on the receiving end of some serious jack. This kind of puts things in a different perspective, and I don’t hate the guy at all for finally getting some of the money he should’ve probably gotten from NE. Desmond Bryant will benefit tremendously from having a three time sb winner helping him along, as well.
Here’s the link to the article: BIG MONEY
"If your only ambition in life, is to be a better person; well, that's just the best ambition you can have..." Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew
Thanks, Brhynno
Yes, maybe Desmond was one of the young players that Seymour was talking about when he said he would love to help build up the team. The guy is by all accounts extremely teacheble, and that’s one of the main intangibles pundits are discussing. I am very interested in these intangibles; Ernie Davis (cf. above) certainly had them in massive quantities. So did Bob Brown – very inspirational.
by Spirals galore on Mar 11, 2010 10:28 PM PST up reply actions
plus this guy isnt your typical 22, 23 year old
fresh out of a party wild school. he is gonna be 26 midseason as a sophmore to the league. he is very mature and all business. plus being a psyc. major, this guy knows how the mind can WILL itself to greatness.
by rodeosnake12 on Mar 11, 2010 11:07 PM PST up reply actions
Al is one of the few guys around, who'd have taken this guy
So we should give him credit here, where it is surely due.
"If your only ambition in life, is to be a better person; well, that's just the best ambition you can have..." Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew
besides renegades al has a soft spot for literates aswell.
john ritchie, nutz on the field but a stanford grad that would chat up old literature with davis and im sure savy al has some nice talks with dez too!
by rodeosnake12 on Mar 11, 2010 11:36 PM PST up reply actions
Al deserves alot of credit
Yeah, He fucks up alot in the first round. but when it comes to rounds after that. He has an eye for talent
In Bruce We Trust
Have you seen the Express? Awesome, awesome movie, about Ernie
and I’ve found it to be mostly historically accurate, unlike most Hollywoodized films about football. A little Jim Brown and Floyd Little in there, too. Really enjoyed that movie on a plane cross country.
"If your only ambition in life, is to be a better person; well, that's just the best ambition you can have..." Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew
Oh, it was a great movie!
Remember how he decided to become a football player – when he refused to give in to the white boys and they started chasing him with the bats, and he imagined them as tackles?
There were also special features with the real Jim Brown and Floyd Little. Lots of great NFL players are called Brown – one of my favorites is Bob Brown, the offensive tackle who joined the Raiders as FA (Madden times) – fierce guy! I wish we had someone like him now.
by Spirals galore on Mar 11, 2010 11:40 PM PST up reply actions
I worked with his wife for 4 years:
he still lives in Oakland.
It is all about coming together as a team. At the end of the day, the team is all we have. - T. Branch 10-14-09
by Raymond St. Martin (Saint) on Mar 12, 2010 6:58 AM PST up reply actions
Haven't met him
It is all about coming together as a team. At the end of the day, the team is all we have. - T. Branch 10-14-09
by Raymond St. Martin (Saint) on Mar 12, 2010 2:05 PM PST up reply actions
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