Dez Bryant and Michael Irvin meet

Michael Irvin got to meet the receiver who will wear his No. 88. Irvin and Dez Bryant spoke for roughly five minutes after the Cowboys first practice session.

Irvin did most of the talking. What did he share?

"The responsibility of wearing Drew Pearson's number,'' Irvin said. "A lot of people have worn that Cowboy helmet before him and the honor it is to wear a Cowboy uniform and that he plays for everybody that has played before him and for everybody that is going to play after him.

"I just wanted to give him a sense of the enormity of it all. And I think he understands that. And he remains humble and that's a good sign.''

Irvin calls Bryant a natural receiver, adding, "I don't know if I have seen anybody that has the body control and the natural ability to receive a football like Dez Bryant in a Cowboy uniform in a long time.'' Pearson, who also wore No. 88, told Irvin to go do better things with that number than he ever did. Irvin told Bryant the same.

Some have compared Bryant to Carolina's Steve Smith. Irvin said Smith is smaller and a little faster up the field than Bryant, but Bryant is bigger and just as physical. Edge, Bryant. He said he sees a little bit of Baltimore's Anquan Boldin in Bryant's lower body and ability to go get the ball.

And in what ways does Bryant remind Irvin of himself?

"That's his sanctuary out there,'' Irvin said, pointing to the field. "That's where it's all OK.

"When you get a guy where his sanctuary and his peace is on the field, you can get some things out of him. You can get some good play out of him. Because out there, everything is all right, and he'll always give you everything he has on the field. He'll be winner on the field.''

Click here to order Michael Irvin's proCane Rookie Card.



(dallasnews.com)