Cowboys sign Martavis Bryant, ending a 5-year absence for a receiver suspended 3 times

Cowboys sign Martavis Bryant, ending a 5-year absence for a receiver suspended 3 time

After three suspensions, wide receiver Martavis Bryant was released by the Dallas Cowboys and added to their practice squad on Wednesday. Bryant has been out of the league for five years.

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2018 saw Bryant play for the Raiders for the final time before they relocated from Oakland to Las Vegas. Late in the season, he was suspended indefinitely for violating drug laws.

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The 31-year-old was a fourth-round pick by the Steelers in 2014 and spent four years with them, including a suspension for the entire 2016 season.

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Bryant played in the CFL and, more recently, the XFL before signing with the Cowboys after a workout following Commissioner Roger Goodell's reinstatement.

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"I know I'm 31, but I'm still fast, still big, I still want to play football," Bryant stated at the time. "I haven't misplaced anything."

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There are a lot of skeptics out there. It's more about me proving to myself that I'm still capable."

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Bryant scored eight touchdowns as a rookie with Pittsburgh, then set a career high with 765 yards receiving

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and six touchdowns in 11 games a year later after serving his first suspension, a four-game suspension.

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Bryant recorded 603 yards and three touchdowns with the Steelers in 2017 after missing all of 2016 before playing eight games with the Raiders in 2018.

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"I've been through a lot in the years that I haven't played ball," Bryant explained. "I'm feeling down on myself and want to give up football."

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But, in the end, I had to look myself in the mirror and confront my own issues."

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