Dez Bryant thinks he can be the first 2,000 yard receiver

Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant has high hopes for his NFL career. Bryant believes he can become the NFL's first 2,000 yard receiver. A tall task indeed.

Bryant told ESPNDallas.com that his breakout season in 2012 was only the beginning of better days to come. Bryant caught 92 passes for 1,382 yards this past season.

"That's still scratching the surface," Bryant said in a telephone interview with ESPNDallas.com. "It's only going to get better, to be honest. I still have a lot to give. I feel like nobody's seen anything. Nothing.

"I feel like it can be a lot more than that. That's just being honest. I honestly feel like [2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns] can potentially happen." 

It can happen but it won't happen for Bryant as long as he's in Dallas. Bryant says his knowledge of the offense and maturation gives him this confidence. Maybe but I can't see it happening. Dallas still likes to run the ball which will take away any potential targets coming his way. Throw in the fact that tight end Jason Witten is still around and that further dwindles his chances.

The closest to come to matching that feat was Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions and he was all they had on offense. So if he couldn't pull it off I don't see Bryant doing it in a more complete offense. I'm not saying he's a bad receiver, I think the Cowboys have too many other variables that will keep him from approaching that benchmark.

It's good to have confidence in your abilities but this may be a bit too much for Bryant.  

"It girl" of the week: Marzia Prince

The "It Girl" of the week is Marzia Prince.

This blonde bombshell is the definition of perfection and the biggest distraction of them all. She has a gorgeous face, perfect body, brains to go with it, a girl who played multiple sports in high school, a weightlifter who has more certifications than Joe Weider, and someone we can all follow training and nutrition advice from since she's dieted down to win several bikini championships. Does it get any better than this? I'm not sure a more perfect girl exists fellas. This 5'9" southern belle is a spokesmodel for Gaspari Nutrition and is the hottest girl in the game hands-down. You've seen her in dozens of magazines like Iron Man, Muscle and Fitness, American Curves, Fitness Rx, Muscular Development, and Planet Muscle and you've done a double take to drool over her in every single one of them.

Michigan defensive coordinator likes Mitch McGary at defensive end

Michigan center Mitch McGary has made a positive impact for the Michigan basketball team during the Wolverines run to the Sweet 16. He's also made a few fans along the way.

Michigan football defensive coordinator, Greg Mattison, has taken notice and likes what he sees in McGary. He likes him so much that he says he would like to see him at defensive end on the football team. Wishful thinking but Mattison has a plan.



"No question about it," Mattison said with a laugh. "I already promised he'd be a 5-technique (defensive lineman) right away and we'd get him a lot of sacks. I love him.

"I saw him one time the team was going to eat somewhere -- I just happened to run into him. I'd never stood next to him, and I just looked at him and all I kept thinking is, 'Wow, would he be good as a 5-technique.'"



McGary did play football growing up and you can tell with the way he plays on the court. He goes all out on just about every play. Mattison can dream but this probably won't happen.

Bobby Hurley hired to coach Buffalo basketball

The University of Buffalo has hired Bobby Hurley to lead the basketball team in a new direction.

Hurley was introduced as the new coach today after cutting his teeth with his brother, Danny, at Wagner and Rhode Island where Danny was the head coach and Bobby was an assistant.

He'll be taking over for the recently ousted Reggie Witherspoon, who had a small bit of success but was never able to get the team to the NCAA tournament in a pretty wide open MAC conference.

"The appointment of coach Hurley sends a clear statement that the University at Buffalo is committed to bringing big-time college athletics to the western New York community and the state at large," athletic director Danny White said. "I'm confident after our discussions that he is the right leader to take our program to the next level."

Most know Hurley from his days as a national championship winning point guard at Duke, which should get Buffalo some name recognition. Before anyone thinks this is a Clyde Drexler (Houston) or Isiah Thomas (Florida International) gimmick hiring, you must remember that basketball runs in the Hurley family blood.

Bob Hurley Sr. coaches the famed St. Anthony's high school program in New Jersey and has compiled more than 1000 wins. Dan played at Seton Hall and Bobby played in the NBA after his Duke career.

I don't know what this will do for recruiting and getting fans in the seats but knowing the leader that Hurley was at Duke, I believe the Bulls made a good hire. Hopefully for the fans there, it will translate into a winning program.

Maurice Jones-Drew doesn't like the criticism of Blaine Gabbert

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert hasn't had too much success at the NFL level. You can say he's had too many coordinators (three since he's came in the league) or he just doesn't have it. The new coaching staff doesn't seem too hot on him either as head coach Gus Bradley has declared it an open competition.

Recently a report surfaced saying that a former Jaguars assistant had some rather unkind words about Gabbert. The unnamed assistant said that Gabbert "thinks nothing is ever his fault" and they referred to him as "Blame Gabbert".

Fair or unfair, Gabbert's backfield mate Maurice Jones-Drew took umbrage with what the former assistant had to say about Gabbert.


“For that coach to come out and say that, that’s not what a man should do,” Jones-Drew said. “You have a problem, tell it to his face. You don’t air somebody out after you’re gone. That happens too much in this league.

“It just [ticks] me off that people talk about the guy like that. I get upset about it because people think it’s easy to learn [a new playbook], let alone learn what everybody is doing around you."

What the former assistant said might be true, he should've put his name to it. There are always unnamed sources putting their problems out there for all to know. Jones-Drew is correct, say it to his face if you have a problem. At least say it when you're going out the door.

“I’m not making excuses for Blaine — he’s made mistakes of his own that for us to go places, he has to correct,” he said. “But we all make mistakes, and I feel like we haven’t supported him enough.”

“How do you expect a guy to play?” Jones-Drew said. “I don’t understand how a guy can perform at a consistent level when there’s no consistency in his [professional] life.”

Once again I believe Jones-Drew is dead on. You can't develop any consistency when you keep changing the playbook and changing coaches. Gabbert hasn't had the best success but he hasn't been put in a position to succeed. Gabbert hasn't done well on the field but the Jags haven't done any favors for Gabbert.

Jamie Dixon signs extension at Pittsburgh

When Kevin O'Neiil was fired as head basketball coach at USC, there was speculation that Pittsburgh coach, Jamie Dixon would follow his former boss Ben Howland out west and take over the Trojans program. Pitt fans can rest a little easier because Dixon has signed a 10 year extension that will keep him in the Steel City.

Dixon has had success after Howland left for UCLA but has fell short of the Final Four and has been eliminated in the NCAA tournament six times before the Sweet 16. Despite the criticism because of the tournament shortcomings, Dixon says he and his family are happy in Pittsburgh.

"I'm very happy at Pittsburgh," Dixon said live on TNT in advance of Saturday's Round of 32 game between Harvard and Arizona. "That's where I'm going to be."

"I'm very happy," Dixon said. "Pitt's a great place. My family loves it there."

The school has to feel better since the Panthers will be moving to the ACC next season, but Dixon will need the team to take their effort up a few notches to maintain the level of consistency Pitt fans are used to.  

"It girl" of the week: Jeny Romero

The "It Girl" of the week is Jeny Romero.