Bryant determined to be a Cowboys star, not a problem

TULSA, Okla. -- Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant is proclaiming himself ready to go whenever the NFL lockout is over, ending an offseason he'd rather forget.

"There will be an NFL season, and I think we will start on time," Bryant said Saturday afternoon during an appearance at a local department store about an hour from Oklahoma State, where he played college football. "I know Dallas will be ready to go, and I'll be ready to put on my helmet and go to work."

Cowboys owner stands by his man

Bryant said he doesn't have any lingering effects from the broken ankle that he suffered against the Indianapolis Colts in early December. It put an abrupt stop to Bryant's rookie season, in which he had 45 catches for 561 yards and six touchdowns and also returned two punts for scores.

"I'm very determined to stay healthy this season," Bryant said. "I'm working hard, and I am staying focused on that. I'm running routes every day to get ready. It was 104 degrees yesterday, and I was running gassers. I feel good, and I'm ready to play."

Although the lockout, in its third month, is keeping players away from the team's facility, Bryant and his teammates are working out on their own.

"We're getting together two or three times a week at an undisclosed location," Bryant said with a smile. "We can't be at the facility, but everything else is fine. We're going through practice and getting ready. The work stoppage isn't hurting me at all. I'm motivating myself to be ready."

The practice routine has been welcomed by Bryant, who had been facing more than $800,000 in debt and lawsuits after several spending sprees. He also had a well-publicized run-in with security at a Dallas-area mall.

"I have a handle on it, and it's done," Bryant said when asked about his money problems. "It's in the past, and I'm ready to go ahead from here."

Bryant's offseason problems and the lockout did little to dissuade Dallas and Oklahoma State fans from attending Saturday's autograph session. The autograph line started forming 2½ hours before Bryant's appearance.

Bryant was quick to dismiss stories that the offseason money problems caused a rift between himself and his teammates or Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

"From what I see, my relationship with Mr. Jones is fabulous," Bryant said. "The relationship between Big Tony (Romo, the Cowboys' quarterback) and me is great. He believes in me and knows what I can do. If he throws a jump ball, he knows that I will go up and get it."

Bryant also said he's excited to begin working with his new position coach, Jimmy Robinson, who signed with the Cowboys less than one week after helping the Green Bay Packers win last season's Super Bowl.

"I feel about him the same way I do coach (Jason) Garrett," Bryant said. "He's a determined guy who wants to win. With that kind of attitude, you can't go wrong. Knowing that, it's easy for me to buy into his philosophy.

"I think we'll be more aggressive this year with (Garrett) in charge. I still have a bad taste in my mouth after starting 1-7 last year, and that makes me motivated and determined for this season."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Bryant determined to be a Cowboys star, not a problem

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No Clark, no Collie, no problem: Colts ready for Texans

INDIANAPOLIS -- Peyton Manning sees the Colts' injuries at wide receiver as merely another challenge to overcome.

Jacob Tamme heads into his second career start at tight end in place of Dallas Clark, and undrafted free agent Blair White is expected to see more playing time while subbing for Austin Collie when the Colts host the Houston Texans on Monday night.

Clark has been lost for the season with a wrist injury, and Collie will miss the game after undergoing surgery on his right thumb.

Manning expressed confidence Thursday when asked about his depleted group of pass-catchers.

"I really look forward to seeing where we are in this game," the quarterback said. "We'll get better each game with some of the new guys that are going to be playing in different spots. It's an exciting opportunity for these guys."

Wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez is expected to be available after missing four of the past five games with a sprained right ankle, but running back Joseph Addai is considered day to day with a nerve injury in his left shoulder and didn't practice Thursday. Wide receiver Pierre Garcon sat out with a hamstring injury, and the team's top wideout, Reggie Wayne, was limited with a hamstring injury.

At one point, Manning removed "injuries" from his vocabulary.

"It's not something that ... you can just keep drowning yourself with that word," he said. "We have to move on with the guys that are playing."

Even through all the injuries this season, Manning, a four-time MVP, has been dominant. He leads the NFL with a 103.4 passer rating and is tied for third with 13 touchdown passes.

"That one weapon that's going to take all them snaps is pretty good," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said.

Dallas Clark doesn't receive as much publicity as some of his teammates, but the Colts will have a difficult time replacing what he brought to the offense, Bucky Brooks writes. More ...

Center Jeff Saturday said the team takes great pride in its depth.

"It's something that we've built ourselves on here," he said. "Tamme's going to have to step in and do well, Gonzo's going to have to come back and be what he can be. Blair White, anybody. Next guy up has got to step up and meet the challenge. I've got faith in those guys."

There's no time to ease the youngsters into the lineup. The Colts are 0-2 in the AFC South and would have difficulty winning the division with another loss. The Texans and the Colts, both 4-2, are a half-game behind the Tennessee Titans for the division lead.

The Colts acknowledge that losing Clark affects their game plan. Clark's speed and pass-catching skills often have created mismatches and forced defenses to play with additional defensive backs.

"He certainly created some opportunities for us," Colts coach Jim Caldwell said. "Anytime you see a guy in his position catch 100 balls (last year), obviously, he's an integral part of what we do. He's been able to force teams to adjust what they want to do from a defensive standpoint in terms of personnel. Losing Dallas certainly is a bit of a blow to us."

Tamme, a special-teams standout who has six catches in his career and none this season, said his preparation has been similar to other weeks.

"Obviously, there's a few more reps, but mentally, no different," he said. "I think I'm prepared pretty good. Dallas does a good job of getting all of us prepared to play. I've been prepared to play every week. I'll prepare the same way."

White has made six catches for 66 yards this season. He was called up from the practice squad in Week 3 and caught three passes for 27 yards and one touchdown in a win over the Denver Broncos.

Garcon said the Colts expect anyone who plays to produce.

"We're not really making an adjustment based on the people that we're missing, we're making an adjustment on the defense that we're playing against," he said. "It's real simple. Just be where you're supposed to be at the time you're supposed to be there -- and make the plays."

Saturday knows the Texans don't feel sorry for the Colts.

"Obviously, losing those guys hurts, but you've got to continue to find ways to win," he said. "They ain't calling any games off."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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