It’s not uncommon for a quarterback to shell out big money to show other players on his team how much he appreciates them. When a quarterback makes the Pro Bowl or wins the Super Bowl, they often buy expensive gifts for each member of the offensive line. It’s a gesture that shows appreciate for the unit, one that often gets overlooked by the national media.
That isn’t exactly what happened with Seattle Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, but quarterback Sam Darnold did play a major role in Lawrence winning himself a new Rolex … only Darnold may not have known about that.
Advertisement
Turns out, Lawrence won a bet against former Dallas Cowboys teammate Dez Bryant, who now owes Lawrence a new Rolex. Bryant shared a NSFW text exchange he had with Lawrence at the beginning of the season. In it, Bryant doubts whether Darnold will be good enough to lead the team to the Super Bowl. Lawrence sends multiple texts supporting Darnold, saying the quarterback “ain’t going to turn the ball over,” and that the team’s defense is going to “take the league by storm.”
Bryant said he didn’t doubt the defense, but that Darnold would need to “make me a believer,” calling out that Darnold didn’t have Justin Jefferson to throw to anymore.
After Lawrence thanked Bryant for having the conversation, Bryant said, “I pray you stay healthy … ball the f*** out … you guys make it to the Super Bowl … I’ll buy you a Rolex for doubting you lol.”
The two engaged in that conversation in March, shortly after Lawrence found himself in the crosshairs of his former Dallas teammates. After signing a three-year, $42 million deal with the Seahawks, Lawrence called out the Cowboys, saying he wasn’t going to win a Super Bowl in Dallas. That drew the ire of a number of Lawrence’s former teammates, including then-Cowboy Micah Parsons, who said it was “clown s***.”
Advertisement
Bryant seemingly sent words of encouragement to Lawrence at the time, which may have been the reason the two started texting in the first place.
In both instances, Lawrence came out on top. The Cowboys couldn’t reach an extension with Parsons, trading him to the Green Bay Packers. The team then turned in a miserable defensive performance this season, finishing with a 7-9-1 record and not making the playoffs.
Lawrence, meanwhile, is a key player on the most dominant defense in the NFL. Darnold not only carried over the success he had with the Minnesota Vikings, but turned in arguably his best game of the season against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship.
Advertisement
The 28-year-old Darnold threw for 346 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions against the Rams in the 31-27 victory.
Because of that performance, the Seahawks are heading to the Super Bowl. And while a ring would be enough of a prize for Lawrence if the team wins, knowing a Rolex is on the way right now probably feels pretty good too.
Read the full article here
