The New Orleans Saints have continued their aggressive challenge for the Super Bowl by signing free agent wide receiver Dez Bryant on a one-year contract.
The three-time Pro Bowler was one of the best receivers in the NFL in his prime, but has been without a team since being let go by the Dallas Cowboys in April with him due $12m this season.
New Orleans are the second-best scoring team in the NFL but are in need of receiver help and have opted to bring in the experienced and explosive Bryant despite him having question marks over his temperament.
It could be a gamble from head coach Sean Payton to introduce Bryant to a locker room on a seven-game winning run, and on a massive high after handing the LA Rams their first defeat of the season last Sunday.
New Orleans Saints betting
The Saints, though, seem to be going all-out in search of the Super Bowl with 39-year-old quarterback Drew Brees playing some of his best football and having receiver Michael Thomas and running back Alvin Kamara as two of the best skill position players in the league.
In Bryant, though, they have more than a journeyman fill-in as the 30-year-old put together three straight 1200-yard seasons while becoming one of the most dominant receivers in the game.
Bryant spent all eight of his NFL seasons in Dallas, playing in 113 regular season games and catching 531 balls for 7,459 yards and 73 touchdowns, although his production tailed off in his final year with the Cowboys.
It's a roll of the dice the 7-1 Saints feel is worth taking, given Bryant will be determined to try and prove himself, and earn a long-term contract, so is unlikely to rock the boat too much if he can help it.
His experience at the highest level could come in handy down the stretch, with Thomas the standout receiver at New Orleans but rookie Tre-Quan Smith still finding his feet in the NFL and nothing much else by the way of receiving help.
Thomas will remain the number one, but Bryant could play his way into the number two spot and also offers an excellent red zone target for Brees to use as the Saints head towards the play-offs - which happens to include a trip to Dallas at the end of November.
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