Wendell Bryant: “It’s A Day At A Time”

We recently wrote about former Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Wendell Bryant’s battles with drug and alcohol that cost him his job in the NFL, detailing his efforts to get and stay clean as he seeks a new lease on life and football. With nearly a year of sobriety under his belt, Bryant recently tried out for the Buffalo Bills. Now, Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic is telling Bryant’s story, which includes a desire to pay back the Cardinals for the $5.5 million signing bonus they squandered on him after drafting him in the first round out of the University of Wisconsin. “You really don’t know the opportunities you have until they are gone,” Bryant told the Republic. “It took me a long time to realize that. You don’t realize how much you love something until it’s taken away.” Per the report, Bryant is down to 295 pounds and appears to be in excellent shape. “He actually has a physique,” personal trainer Chad Ikei said. “He’s not going to be on the cover of Men’s Fitness, but he’s much better than he was. ... The league is very non-forgiving for some and sometimes forgiving for others. In Wendell’s case, I don’t think it will be very forgiving. “If he was a Pro Bower the first two, three years before he got kicked out, it would be a different story. If he does what I think he’s capable of doing, it’s going to be a great inspiring story for many young athletes.” Per the report, prior to Bryant’s final third drug strike in the NFL’s substance abuse program for taking Ecstasy, former Cardinals coach Dennis Green tried to warn Bryant about the road he was heading down. “I looked at him like, ‘I don’t give a (expletive),’” Bryant said. Engaged to be married and a father now, Bryant has gone through drug rehabilitation and will have been sober for an entire year on June 3. “I’m looking forward to it, but I’m also cognizant of the fact that’s it’s just a year,” Bryant said. “It’s a day at a time. Wake up, get on my knees, pray and let God do the rest.” Bryant recently tried out for the Detroit Lions and is also interested in other football leagues, including the CFL. Of course, the Cardinals are a closed door. “But we wish him the best in terms of his recovery,” Cardinals General Manager Rod Graves said.