Expressing a warm-but-stern level of No. 88 Big D brotherhood, former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Drew Pearson has come down against the so-called "Dez Bryant Rules."
It was reported on Sunday that a strict set of off-the-field guidelines have been in put in place for Bryant, the talented wideout who has struggled to stay out of trouble since being taken in the first round of the 2010 draft.
"I don't think this situation is a good situation as far as Dez is concerned," Pearson told KRLD-FM (via The Dallas Morning News) on Tuesday. "I don't like it. It's a grown man. He's 23 years old. A grown man has to be restricted and told what to do? You're supposed to be a professional."
Pearson thinks the guidelines put in place by the Cowboys only serve the team. Pearson -- who was also critical of Bryant's lack of maturity -- believes the babysitting act will be detrimental to Bryant when his playing days are done.
"Nobody's talking about Cole Beasley being immature or Cole Beasley needs people to be with him and all this kind of stuff," Pearson said, referring to the 23-year-old Cowboys rookie who's the same age as Bryant. "I'm saying, why can't Dez adjust to this? Why can't he become a man?"
The Cowboys are wondering the same thing. The guidelines -- which include a strict curfew and near-constant supervision -- are a desperate, perhaps last-ditch, effort by Dallas to protect its investment. Hard to fault the team for that.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @danhanzus.
