Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant has defended his actions after being involved in two sideline confrontations with teammates during yesterday's match against the Detroit Lions.
Bryant was angry with quarterback Tony Romo for a third down incompletion late in the third quarter, while a spat with tight end Jason Witten after the Lions' last-gasp winning touchdown needed defensive end DeMarcus Ware to step in and separate the two.
However, the 24-year-old insists that his actions are born out of positive passion and a desire to help his team succeed.
"My passion is always positive. It's always positive. It's going to remain the same way. I'm not saying anything wrong. I'm not saying anything bad. It's all positive. That's just what it is. I'm the nicest person off the field. When I'm on the field, even when I look angry, it's still all good passion. It's all good passion," Bryant told reporters.
"I feel like that's what we need. I'm going to remain the same way. I feel like I love this game. I love it. In order to win, you've got to be passionate about this game. You have to be. You've got to let that dog come out and just put it all out there on the line. Everybody knows up in this locker room who I am. It's been that way since day one.
"The day that I got drafted, like I told you all, don't get it twisted - I love this game. I love my teammates. That's what it is. It's going to forever remain the same. It started in Pop Warner, went to middle school, went to high school, went to college, and it's here. It's going to stay that way. It won't change."
Bryant had three catches for 72 yards and two touchdowns as the Cowboys fell to a dramatic 31-30 defeat.