Photo credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Photo credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

So there are reports of a tape which shows Dez Bryant doing something five times worse than Ray Rice (killing a small child and eating it?). It’s Twitter’s rumor du jour. Actually, it’s the rumor du mois– it’s been going around for a few weeks now. Is it true? Maybe. Maybe not. As an Eagles fan, I kind of want it to be. As a human, I want it to all be just a big scam. Either way, I wouldn’t put too much stock in the “reports.”

The main one comes from uber-gossip-blog Terez Owens, which makes this site look like The Atlantic. When Mike Missanelli decries bloggers as being misinformed, irresponsible jackasses, he might as well be talking about Terez (who runs an entertaining site, but whom I’m guessing would admit to routinely throwing shit at walls based on barely-vetted tips, rumors and day-old gossip). Here’s what TO wrote:

The incriminating video of Dallas Cowboys superstar receiver Dez Bryant doing something supposedly Ray Rice worthy is being released today or tomorrow. According to our source, the Cowboys haven’t done a huge deal with Dez because of concern over the video. Unfortunately Bryant’s team won’t be able to stop the tape from getting out to the public. Of course Cowboys COO Stephen Jones denies knowledge of such a video. This is going to be a game changer for the Cowboys future. UPDATE: We’re being told the Cowboys have warned Dez the tape is going to be released, and from someone who has seen it, that it’s five times worse than the Ray Rice Video. His football career is in jeopardy according to our source. Also a Dez insider tells us he is being brainwashed by Jay Z and Roc Nation Sports.

Now, actual news outlets are running with that “report,” including the Seattle Sun Times and, predictably, CBS Philly. And Sean Brace, just now on the radio, blamed websites and blogs for fanning the flames because they have no one to answer to and it’s all about “page clicks”… meanwhile, they’ve spent the last 10 minutes talking about it on 97.5 and are bringing on someone from Dallas to discuss further.

Worse, Mike Florio, ostensibly a reporter, went on the radio in Dallas and said the tape is a big deal and everyone is talking about it… but he doesn’t know if it exists.

The media is so, so desirous for this to be an actual thing.

Further: Today, some hip hop producer (always reliable) tweeted the following [aggregated]:

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This is what the general public doesn’t understand about the Dez Bryant video: The video was recorded by his now former friends. He was hanging around some pretty dark people. Now they aren’t friends anymore. So his ex-friends decided it was time for a pay day. However, no one is going to have possession of that tape until they pay. Whoever it is. In conclusion, to Cowboys Nation: We don’t have the tape. We have screenshots. And we’re not leaking anything. Dont need a Cowboys lawsuit. A deadline was set by Bryant’s former friends/extortionists for today for either TMZ or Bryant’s team to purchase the tape. THAT is why there are reports of the tape leaking today. What happens from here on out is between Dez, TMZ, and his former friends. Legal says I’m not at liberty to comment on the content of the screenshots yet.

ESPN just contacted us. Looks like you’ll be seeing me on ESPN later today if terms are met and legal approves.

Latest I’m hearing is the following and it’s oh so fitting: WALMART. SURVEILLANCE. VIDEO.

BACKGROUND: Mike Florio was a guest on 105.3 The Fan last week and was asked about the possibility of a video. His response was shocking. “It’s one of the best-kept secrets in the media,” Florio told hosts Shan Shariff and R.J. Choppy. “A story that all of the major insiders know about, known about it for months, involving a video tape. And the Cowboys are aware of it.”

“Dez Bryant is part of “shakedown” led by two former friends that claim to have proof of a domestic incident involving a young lady.” -IBN

Bullshit.

To recap, that guy, who claims he has screenshots of a video that he’s “hearing” was taken at Walmart (actually, yeah, that would be fitting), says his lawyers have instructed him not to discuss it. I bet. But my favorite part is that the hip hop producer cites Florio’s rumor-mongering and Incarcerated Bob (IBN– an infamous Twitter gambling and rumor account) as background. Time is a flat circle, or something like that, right?

Even Adam Shefter, who told a Chicago radio station (46:50 mark) that he has been working on some vague Dez Bryant story since September, says hasn’t seen any video, isn’t sure if one will come out, and believes Bryant will be playing for Dallas next year. Derp.

I might be wrong, and I’ll be the first to admit it if I am. But I wouldn’t put too much stock in these so-called reports of a video.

Mini pod:

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