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Fraley: Dez Bryant threatens to be Cowboys' Chan Ho Park


01:15 PM CDT on Monday, July 26, 2010


Column by GERRY FRALEY / The Dallas Morning News | gfraley@dallasnews.com

Gerry Fraley
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By defying the NFL's time-honored tradition of rookies serving veterans during training camp, wide receiver Dez Bryant threatens to become the Dallas Cowboys' version of Chan Ho Park.

Bryant on Sunday refused to carry the shoulder pads of veteran wide receiver Roy Williams as the team left the Alamodome field following practice. Park did something similar as a rookie with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1996, refusing to wear a garish disco-era outfit for a plane flight. All baseball teams have an annual "rookie trip" in which the young players are forced to wear outlandish clothes.

Park refused to go along with the plan and emphasized his point by throwing a fit in the visitors' clubhouse at Wrigley Field. Park had already alienated several teammates with his sense of entitlement. The tantrum widened the breach.

Park later apologized for his actions, but the damage had been done. Throughout his career, which included a forgettable stop with the Rangers, Park has never mixed well within a clubhouse. Some of it is cultural. He is Korean. Some of it is his attitude, which showed on that day in Chicago.

Todd Archer offered good advice to Bryant on an earlier post. If Bryant understands the concept of damage control, he will make a public apology after Monday's afternoon practice by carrying off the field the shoulder pads of every veteran.

And Bryant will go along with the gag when rookies are told to go to an area grocery store for a "free" Thanksgiving turkey.

If Bryant balks, a chill will set in within the locker room. Remember, Bryant has yet to make an NFL play.

Rookie initiations happen in every sport. They range from the rookie reliever having to fill with snacks a backpack intended for young girls and wear it on the walk to the bullpen to hockey's shaving rituals. It's part of a bonding experience. By balking, Bryant is telling teammates that he is above it all. That is harmful to team dynamics.
 
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