Twitter: Stephen Jones addresses Dez contract

[CalPolyTechnique]

He's not going to take less money so they only option is tack on a few years and throw a couple of bucks on the back end as an incentive to Bryant.

That's a likely scenario.

I don't see them cutting him outright this season because it creates a vacuum at the position. I don't see us creating a problem for ourselves with then having to go out in the market and pay retail for a quality WR. Nor does this draft offer any Julio Jones type prospects to be eyeballing. Further, it be dumb to again, create a problem going into the draft and pigeonhole yourself like "we gotta get a #1 now!?!?"

 

[LocimusPrime]

 

[Stryker44]

Honor. Loyalty. Sacrifice. Honor The Contract Stephen.

 

[Sydla]

That's a likely scenario.

I don't see them cutting him outright this season because it creates a vacuum at the position. I don't see us creating a problem for ourselves with then having to go out in the market and pay retail for a quality WR. Nor does this draft offer any Julio Jones type prospects to be eyeballing. Further, it be dumb to again, create a problem going into the draft and pigeonhole yourself like "we gotta get a #1 now!?!?"

Then again, this is the Cowboys we are talking about.

 

[Bowdown27]

I honestly think this is Stephen just stating about the contract. I see us working something out with dez. I don’t see him in another uniform

 

[RamziD]

I think it’s obviously in the best interest of the organization to release Dez. I would hope that some of that cap relief would be used in FA (DT, S), but fear it will be to give Demarcus Lawrence a ridiculous contract.

 

[Idgit]

Getting interesting.

I still think they probably find a way to keep Dez, and I hope they do. But when he's been out of the lineup under Dak here it hasn't really been the end of the world. We've been fairly effective without him when the other pieces are in place.

 

[Sydla]

What's left on the Bryant deal that we are on the hook for? $8MM in bonus money, right?

 

[Aviano90]

What's left on the Bryant deal that we are on the hook for? $8MM in bonus money, right?

Yes, that's all that the Cowboys need to account for on the CAP. $4 million is going to hit the books this year anyway. If we cut him it will accelerate the $4 million hit scheduled in 2019 unless we designate as a June 1 cut.

 

[CouchCoach]

I can't conclude anything from that except some flatter for negotiation purposes. As far as trading him, how many teams are able and willing to pay his price to play? What teams don't have their #1WR? How many have a young QB in need of help and how has he helped his young QB?

They need to play hardball as he is the most overpaid player on the team but they have to consider the alternatives for their young QB. Going to bring in a high pick rook WR? Will that help or make it worse?

Is there any team that would be willing to pay him what he's due? Think other GM's and HC's don't see him getting played by mouthy DB's? And his stance when this last contract was up, not going to show and his stance now, not taking a cut. Why would any team trade for him when it is more likely that can just wait for him to be available. Then, it is highest bidder and sure as hell not going to be 14M a season.

 

[Sydla]

Yes, that's all that the Cowboys need to account for on the CAP. $4 million is going to hit the books this year anyway. If we cut him it will accelerate the $4 million hit scheduled in 2019 unless we designate as a June 1 cut.

Curious what kind of extension/restructure we could work with him. There is only 2 years left on the deal.

 

[KJJ]

Stephen’s comments about Dez at the Senior Bowl made it appear Dez’s chances of returning next season 50-50 at best.

 

[Aviano90]

Curious what kind of extension/restructure we could work with him. There is only 2 years left on the deal.

Not sure about the numbers but I'd imagine they tack on 2-3 years, give him guaranteed money since he has none remaining, a signing bonus with a low 2018 base salary, lower his overall yearly average, and punt some CAP hit into the future.

 

[kskboys]

The draft is full of #2 WRs. Like it or not Dez is the closest thing to having a #1 WR next year. No free agent or draft pick will replace even Dez’s low production next year.

Perhaps they are able to draft someone that can be a #1 in 2 years and cut Dez next year but doing so this year would not be a wise decision

Why would you say this? It simply wouldn't be that difficult to replace Dez's production. A decent #2 could do it easily. I'd say the opposite is true, it would be easy to replace Dez's production from last season. The only reason to keep Dez would be the belief that he's going to ball out in 2018.

 

[Sydla]

Why would you say this? It simply wouldn't be that difficult to replace Dez's production. A decent #2 could do it easily. I'd say the opposite is true, it would be easy to replace Dez's production from last season. The only reason to keep Dez would be the belief that he's going to ball out in 2018.

There are some real reaches in this post.

Name for us the #2 WRs we could get in the draft or in FA that would match Bryant's production.

Give us names.

 

[KJJ]

Why would you say this? It simply wouldn't be that difficult to replace Dez's production. A decent #2 could do it easily. I'd say the opposite is true, it would be easy to replace Dez's production from last season. The only reason to keep Dez would be the belief that he's going to ball out in 2018.

It wouldn’t be simple to replace his production because despite his decline in production he still led all our receivers in every statistical category this past season and is still able to win 50-50 battles. He’s still a big redzone threat and scored 8 TDs. A decent #2 receiver certainly isn’t going to out produce him. We can’t just let him go and replace him with any ordinary receiver or our receiving corp will be even worse next season.

If Dez isn’t replaced with a real threat, Beasley will continue being taken out of games and Dak is going to have a tough time rebounding next season. Witten isn’t getting any faster so if we move on from Dez and end up downgrading at the #1 WR position then our passing game will likely get even worse next season.

 

[aria]

Haha...that’s one of the best laughs I got all day on so many levels, thanks for sharing that!

 

[maryquality]

It wouldn’t be simple to replace his production because despite his decline in production he still led all our receivers in every statistical category this past season and is still able to win 50-50 battles. He’s still a big redzone threat and scored 8 TDs. A decent #2 receiver certainly isn’t going to out produce him. We can’t just let him go and replace him with any ordinary receiver or our receiving corp will be even worse next season.

If Dez isn’t replaced with a real threat, Beasley will continue being taken out of games and Dak is going to have a tough time rebounding next season. Witten isn’t getting any faster so if we move on from Dez and end up downgrading at the #1 WR position then our passing game will likely get even worse next season.

Your sir (or madame) are smart!! I agree with your assessment.

 

[CATCH17]

The Cowboys have leverage. They have to get some of the money back because Dallas will not get their money's worth.

Dez can still make ridiculous money but if he is serious about winning a title then he will give up some of that money and hope that the Cowboys make the team better with it.

 

[Idgit]

There are some real reaches in this post.

Name for us the #2 WRs we could get in the draft or in FA that would match Bryant's production.

Give us names.

Sammy Watkins and Donte Moncrief are probably the two most obvious names, given the connection with Lal. Of those, only Watkins is a legitimate replacement for Dez and is still a step down at that. Though he does give us the speed we're looking to add offensively.

Moncrief or a draft pick, or both, to replace Butler. Let them compete with Noah Brown for snaps. Dez' red zone looks maybe got to a player like Gathers if he makes the roster, more passes to Elliott, and continue the option keepers that Dak's good with.

It probably ends up being more expensive than keeping or extending Dez, but we get younger and more explosive with it, and the players all have ties to the staff.