Dez Bryant proving critics wrong

04:13 PM ET 12.03 | This past summer Dez Bryant managed to get himself in trouble again. And this time it was nothing harmless like immature mall rat behavior, but an alleged domestic assault on his mother. While nothing has come about from those charges yet it didn't stop the legions of Cowboys fans from calling for Dez Bryant's departure. Fans said Dez Bryant was not living up to the hype when the Cowboys traded up to get him in the draft and he was given the famous double eights. The man who initially made Dez's hallowed No. 88 famous in the first place claimed he wasn't worthy of the honor of wearing it. "He's not living up to the expectations that were placed on him by wearing that number," Pearson said. "Drew Pearson took it to the Ring of Honor level and Michael Irvin took it way beyond that to the Hall of Fame level. "When Michael and I had a chance to talk to Dez when he came in his rookie year we told him, 'Don't do what Drew Pearson did in it. Don't do what Michael did in it. Do more than that.' I know that's a lot to live up to, but what else is there? You live up to those expectations and people will cherish you for the rest of your life." But Dez has had a break-out month, in what is his break-out year, that might ultimately land him a trip to Hawaii. In the past 4 games his team has been fighting to hold onto a little bit of hope for a chance at the post season. And in those 4 games Dez has put this team on his back. He has caught 29 passes for 475 yards and six touchdowns. That's given him career highs in receptions in a seasons and yards in a season and has him positioned to go over 1,000 yards receiving for the first time in his career.

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