IRVING, Texas – Dez Bryant has grown up enough to understand that he’s still got a lot of growing up to do.

“I feel like I’m still getting there,” Bryant said Thursday. “I don’t want to say that I’m all the way there. It’s still a learning process for me.”

There is plenty of evidence of Bryant’s progress. He’s reporting to Valley Ranch on time and ready, an improvement from his rookie year. Coaches often praise his work ethic and his refined route running. He’s settled the silly, civil court cases against him and kept his nose clean away from the facility. He describes himself as more mature.

As a result, there are signs of Bryant becoming a reliable receiver. Tony Romo went to him twice on late third-and-longs in the last three games, and Bryant made plays to set up potential game-winning field goal attempts both times.

“We’re certainly pleased with Dez’s progress,” coach Jason Garrett said. “As we’ve talked many times, he’s a guy who is very passionate and enthusiastic about the game. He loves to play. When you have the ability that he has and take that approach, he’s going to get better with the experience that he has. He’s comes to practice hard every day and I just think he’s grown as a player.”

Bryant wouldn’t be a Cowboy if not for some off-field issues. A talent like that wouldn’t have slipped out of the top 10, much less near the bottom of the first round of the draft, without some baggage.

But Bryant isn’t a malicious young man. He’s actually eager to please, but ne needs guidance. He knows that, which is why he hangs on every word from his coaches and veterans like Tony Romo and Miles Austin. He believes he’s reached a point in his personal life that will allow him to maximize his professional potential.

“I love my job,” Bryant said. “I don’t want nothing to interfere with what I’m doing.

“[The off-season issues have] all gone away. I feel like it’s been gone away. When I’m here, I’ve got to be focused. I’ve just got to keep moving forward. The weight is off the shoulders. I’ve just got to be careful and grow and learn from it.”

Bryant is having a solid second season. He ranks 27th in the NFL with 706 receiving yards and is tied for 10th with seven touchdown catches.

But Bryant will always be judged by his potential, which he’s just starting to scratch. He has the ability to be one of the NFL’s elite receivers.

The only 100-yard game of Bryant’s career came against the Giants last season, when he had three spectacular catches for 104 yards and a score in Garrett’s victorious debut as the Cowboys’ interim head coach. He’s well aware that folks expect those kinds of performances from him on a consistent basis.

And Bryant is confident that those games are coming.

“I’m just going to keep doing everything I am supposed to do,” Bryant said. “I know it’s going to come. I know it is. Like coach tells me all the time, you just got to be patient.

“When the time comes, you make the best of it. That’s what you got to do.”

The best of Bryant is yet to come. But he’s getting there.