DALLAS -- Deion Sanders has used the airwaves this week to criticize Dez Bryant after the Dallas Cowboys' receiver was given a criminal trespass warning at NorthPark Center last Saturday.
"I'm upset but not surprised whatsoever," Sanders said on ESPN-FM (103.3) on Friday. "He needs help. He needs help. I told the Cowboys from Day One that he needs help. Matter of fact, they have a team in place to help him. But you cannot tell a grown man what to do."
According to the police report written after the incident at NorthPark Center, Bryant spewed profanity when off-duty police officers working security at the mall asked him and his friends to pull up their pants. Bryant was issued a criminal trespass warning, but NorthPark released a statement Friday evening saying he is welcome to return to the mall.
"Mr. Bryant is welcome to join the millions of valued customers who shop and dine at NorthPark Center," spokesman David Margulies said in an e-mail to media Friday evening. "NorthPark Center considers last weekend's issues to be closed."
Margulies said that Friday night's statement "provides notice that the criminal trespass warning is a moot issue."
In October 2009, while Bryant was attending Oklahoma State, he was ruled ineligible by the NCAA after he lied to investigators about a meeting with Sanders, the former two-sport star who played for the Cowboys from 1995-99. Since then, Sanders said his relationship with Bryant has dissolved.
On Thursday, while making an appearance on KTCK-AM (1310) The Ticket, Sanders was asked if Bryant's immaturity was at the root of his problems.
"Very much so," responded Sanders, who was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in February. "The same thing people are criticizing this kid for is the same thing I was trying to help him with."
Sanders said he has no plans to reach out to Bryant, who did not return multiple phone calls made Friday.
"I haven't spoken to the kid," Sanders said. "I don't desire to speak to the kid."
Compensatory pick: The Cowboys were awarded a seventh-round draft choice as the NFL announced the distribution of compensatory picks. The Cowboys received selection No. 251. Overall, there will be 253 picks. Last year, the Cowboys gave up a 2011 seventh-round pick when they selected defensive lineman Josh Brent in the supplemental draft.
Twenty-one picks were given to teams with free-agent losses last year that were determined by formula to be more valuable than their additions. The compensatory rule requires a total of 32 extra picks to be handed out, and the remaining 11 were determined by draft order.
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