Dez Bryant played with some good quarterbacks on the Dallas Cowboys. He also had to play with some bad quarterbacks at times, so he understands how much of a difference that makes for a receiver.

So when he was asked Thursday, the same day he had his first practice with the New Orleans Saints, what his reasons were for signing with the Saints, the first answer he gave shouldn’t be surprising.

“For one, who wouldn’t want to play with Drew Brees?” Bryant said. “Not to take away from anybody else, but you got a guy like Drew Brees, like I said you’ve got a guy like Michael Thomas, [Ben] Watson, Alvin Kamara, Mark Ingram, those types of guys. Little baby GOATs around here.”

It’s smart. Brees is a Hall of Fame quarterback, coach Sean Payton is one of the NFL’s best offensive minds and as Bryant mentioned a couple times in meeting with the media (h/t to NOLA.com’s Luke Johnson for the video), he is surrounded by stars on a good Saints team. It’s a great situation for him to come to in midseason.

The feeling seems to be mutual.

“It’s going to be fun playing with him,” Thomas said.

See more of Bryant's career:

20 PHOTOS Dez Bryant throughout his football career See Gallery Dez Bryant throughout his football career Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant warming up before action against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on December 31, 2017. (Max Faulkner/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS via Getty Images) ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 8: Dez Bryant #88 of the Dallas Cowboys catches a touchdown pass against E.J. Biggers #38 of the Philadelphia Eagles as teammate Terrance Williams #83 looks on in the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium on November 8, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant (L) stretches for the first down after making the reception as he is pulled down by Texas cornerback Deon Beasley in the first half of their NCAA Big 12 football game in Austin, Texas October 25, 2008. REUTERS/Mike Stone (UNITED STATES) OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 17: Head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Jason Garrett, chats to Dez Bryant #88 of the Dallas Cowboys during the warm up before the game against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 17, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) OXNARD, CA - AUGUST 14: Wide receiver Dez Bryant #88 signs autographs for fans during Dallas Cowboys Training Camp at the Marriott Residence Inn Oxnard River Ridge on August 14, 2010 in Oxnard, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 05: Dez Bryant #88 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates his touchdown catch against the Houston Texans in the second half at AT&T Stadium on October 5, 2014 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) COLUMBIA, MO - OCTOBER 11: Dez Bryant #1 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys stiff-arms Castine Bridges #21 of the Missouri Tigers on October 11, 2008 at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by G. Newman Lowrance/Getty Images) Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant warms up before a game against the Oakland Raiders on December 17, 2017 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. (Rodger Mallison/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS via Getty Images) EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 10: Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) on the field prior to the National Football League game between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys on December 10, 2017, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Dallas Cowboys rookie Dez Bryant, right, walks with reporters to the locker room following the Cowboys training camp at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, Saturday, July 31, 2010. (Photo by Ron T. Ennis/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT via Getty Images) ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 30: Dez Bryant #88 of the Dallas Cowboys makes a touchdown reception against Bashaud Breeland #26 of the Washington Redskins in the fourth quarter of a football game at AT&T Stadium on November 30, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 19: Dez Bryant #88 of the Dallas Cowboys carries the ball and scores a touchdown against Darrelle Revis #24 of the New York Jets in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 19, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) ATHENS, GA - SEPTEMBER 1: Wide receiver Dez Bryant #1 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys hauls in a practice pass before the game against the Georgia Bulldogs on September 1, 2007 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. The Bulldogs beat the Cowboys 35-14. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 1: Dez Bryant #88 of the Dallas Cowboys misses a one handed catch in the fourth quarter of the game agains the Minnesota Vikings on December 1, 2016 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 27: Dez Bryant #88 of the Dallas Cowboys scores on a five yard touchdown pass from Tony Romo #9 during the second quarter ofd the game at Ford Field on October 27, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant, right, signs an autograph for Cooper Wilson, 9, of Frisco, Texas, during Cowboys Mini Camp practice at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, June 12, 2010. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT via Getty Images) Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) cuts through the defense after receiving the ball as the Cowboys hold a practice session at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday June 2, 2010. (Photo by Rodger Mallison/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT via Getty Images) SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 30: Wide Receiver Dez Bryant #1 of the Oklahoma State University Cowboys jumps up to catch the ball as Free Safety T.J. Ward #2 of the University of Oregon Ducks breaks up the pass during the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium on December 30, 2008 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) is all smiles before playing the San Diego Chargers in their pre-season NFL football game in San Diego, California August 18, 2012. REUTERS/Mike Blake (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL) Dallas Cowboys' wide receiver Dez Bryant (R) runs with the ball after the reception as St. Louis Rams' safety Craig Dahl (L) and cornerback Al Harris try to make the tackle in the first half of their NFL football game in Arlington, Texas October 23, 2011. REUTERS/Mike Stone (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL) Up Next See Gallery Discover More Like This HIDE CAPTION SHOW CAPTION of SEE ALL BACK TO SLIDE

Dez Bryant practices for first time with Saints

It’s going to take some time to get used to the sight of Bryant in a Saints uniform. The last time he played for anyone other than the Cowboys, he was at Oklahoma State.

Bryant’s whole offseason has been unusual. After he was cut by the Cowboys, he had conversations with Payton before the NFL draft, the Saints coach said. Payton said after the team drafted Tre’Quan Smith, those talks cooled down. Then, with Cameron Meredith about to go on injured reserve and the Saints needing receiver help, Payton reached out.

Bryant waited until November to sign with a team, and he admitted it was an odd time.

“A lot of ups and downs, you know?” Bryant said. “Wanting to play football, thinking about playing football, thinking about playing next year, just a lot of ups and downs.”

Bryant unsure how he’ll feel playing against the Cowboys

Bryant said he’s unsure how much he’ll play this weekend. He said he’s knocking some rust off, and will leave his role up to Payton.

The one game that is likely circled for him is a Nov. 29 date against the Cowboys. That game will be on a Thursday night, and his return to Dallas will be a big story. But Bryant didn’t seem to want to fuel that storyline, saying he was unsure how he’d feel playing his old team.

“I honestly don’t know. I don’t know. I am excited,” Bryant said. “I’ll get to see all the Cowboys fans. I still love those guys, love my my ex-teammates, they are forever my family. But I’m here on a new chapter. It’s going to be fun though, but I’m an opponent now.”

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Frank Schwabis a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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