When the media declares someone 'burst on the scene', no one would argue it isn't exactly what Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant did in 2014. After being inactive for the first six weeks of the season, the first pass thrown to Bryant felt like a message being sent to the rest of the NFL. A 35-yard touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger on Monday Night Football against the Houston Texans was just the tip of the iceberg for Bryant.
It was from there Bryant went on a rampage throughout the final games of the 2014 season catching 8 touchdown passes and having an astounding 21.12 yards per reception average. With the first act of Bryant's screen play done, what can fans expect for the second act?
Only time will truly answer that question, but one thing fans can count on is Bryant working harder than ever to prove he wasn't just a flash in the pan.
"I'm working harder this year because I'm more prepared. I know what's coming this time," Bryant told Jim Wexell of SteelCityInsider.com. "And the coaches have trusted me just from my preparation and me working on my technique. I'm learning from Coach (Richard) Mann, learning from Coach (Todd) Haley, learning from Ben, learning from A.B. (Antonio Brown) and listening to Coach (Mike) Tomlin."
The fact Bryant is entering a wide receiving meeting room with such talent as Brown, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Markus Wheaton certainly helps the young receiver.
"Everybody in this group works hard. Everyone wants to be great. It's a team that likes to grind together and let everything fall into place."
It has been documented how Bryant has been working out with FoxSports NFL insider and MMA trainer Jay Glazer in the offseason, and Steelers fans everywhere are hoping the hard work and dedication will pay dividends for the black and gold in 2015. As long as Roethlisberger stays healthy, it is safe to say the two will be looking to make big plays.
Bryant is thankful to have a quarterback like Roethlisberger throwing him the football, and he noticed immediately how good Roethlisberger was when he first started catching passes from him as a rookie.
"He's the best quarterback I done ever had," Bryant said. "I watched him on TV when I was in college, but seeing how he throws in person was unbelievable."
"Ben doesn't pat the ball when he throws it. He just holds it and releases it and zoom."
Roethlisberger to Bryant might be a phrase you hear a lot of in 2015, and when posed with the question how good his sophomore season could, be Bryant answered it perfectly, "the sky's the limit".