Is it time to pay Dez?

MWH1967

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Final Exam: Time right for Dez's extension?
January, 7, 2014 Jan 710:00AM ETBy Tim MacMahon | ESPNDallas.com Recommend1 Tweet0 Comments0Email Print There is no doubt that Dez Bryant will be a major piece of the Dallas Cowboys' foundation for years to come.

It's a matter of when, not if, the 2010 first-round pick gets rewarded with a rich contract extension.


Bryant
The question is whether or not the timing will be right for the Cowboys to get that deal done this offseason. Given their salary cap situation, it probably won't be.

That's not a major problem. Bryant has one season remaining on his rookie deal, which would pay him a base salary of $1.78 million in 2014.

Would Bryant love to get a big raise coming off of his first Pro Bowl season? Of course, but he's not going to pout if he has to play out his rookie contract. He's more motivated by making the playoffs for the first time than money anyway.

The important thing to recognize is that the Cowboys aren't at any risk whatsoever of losing Bryant in free agency after his rookie deal is done. That simply isn't even a remote possibility.

First of all, when has Jerry Jones ever lost a player that he was determined to keep on the Dallas roster? It just doesn't happen. Bryant, who wants to play his entire career with the Cowboys, isn't going to be the first.

The worst-case scenario is that the Cowboys would have to use the franchise tag on Bryant in 2015 and maybe again the next season. And that wouldn't be such a bad thing from the team's perspective, either.

When Bryant gets a new deal, it's a good bet that he'll be paid top-five receiver money, so it's not like the Cowboys would be overpaying by using the franchise tag on him. He'd just count more against the cap than they hoped because there wouldn't be a signing bonus to spread out over multiple years of the contract.

But it's doubtful it'd even come to that point. Deals tend to get done when the mutual interest is this strong.

It's a safe bet that Bryant will be the Cowboys' second highest-paid player relatively soon. It's just more likely to happen in 2015 than this year.

Now that he is headed in the right direction this is a "key" player. Just maybe the Cowboys cap problems will keep Jerry from paying too early. I like this kid he bleeds 'Blue and Silver". Thanks Deion!!!
 

NJ22

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I want this kid here for his career. Hopefully the next coach will be able to optimize his ability. With that said, they have to get this cap in order and clearly JJ has decided next year is another throw away year so if they have to let him play out the year and then sign or tag him I am ok with it.
 

KDM256

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Thought Dez was a bigger priority than Lee when it came to resigning players for the future. Dez can play out his rookie year and excel at the same time. If this is the case, other teams will come calling and I'm pretty sure Dez will listen..
 

Nation

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The top ten cap hits at receiver this year were Andre Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Sidney Rice, Brandon Marshall, Roddy White, DeSean Jackson, Santonio Holmes, Calvin Johnson, Mike Williams, and Reggie Wayne. I'd try and get a 1st rounder and additional picks in a trade instead.
 

Risen Star

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I'm not going to waste my time worrying about this. Dez Bryant will be a Dallas Cowboy for a very long time if not his entire career.
 

The Natural

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He's more than earned his keep and sat out 1 game the last 3 years. He should walk into Jerruh's office and name his price.
 

Future

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Thought Dez was a bigger priority than Lee when it came to resigning players for the future. Dez can play out his rookie year and excel at the same time. If this is the case, other teams will come calling and I'm pretty sure Dez will listen..
Doesn't matter if Dez listens, Jerruh will franchise him if they can't get an extension done.
 

AbeBeta

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Yes. He's turned himself into a different player/person.
 

brickman

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Dez is one of the only players that has the passion & fire. Good idea to let him walk so he doesn't make the other guys look bad. ;)
 

TX_Yid

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Wise to see how his back holds up before we do anything.
 

Jenky

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Be careful guys. Your thread will get shut down if you say anything bad about "the player" named Dez. And receive hate email messages to your account.

I would trade Dez in a heartbeat for a 1st and 2nd. Dallas cap can't afford Dez, romo, ware, witten, austin, hatcher, murray.

Dez wants money. Hatch wants money. Murray wants money. I would try to reach bargain deals with murray and dez or trade them both. Austin issue is likely solved in a release. Hatcher is not worth a big contract either.

LOL, get that **** outta here. It's like you didn't even read the article at all. Dez isn't going anywhere. Live with it.
 

Questfor6

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Be careful guys. Your thread will get shut down if you say anything bad about "the player" named Dez. And receive hate email messages to your account.

I would trade Dez in a heartbeat for a 1st and 2nd. Dallas cap can't afford Dez, romo, ware, witten, austin, hatcher, murray.

Dez wants money. Hatch wants money. Murray wants money. I would try to reach bargain deals with murray and dez or trade them both. Austin issue is likely solved in a release. Hatcher is not worth a big contract either.

Hatcher and Murray won't see extensions unless they cut major hometown discounts.
 

The Natural

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Hatcher and Murray won't see extensions unless they cut major hometown discounts.

I could see that for Hatcher but why should Murray have to offer up a hometown discount? He's a younger player who has done all he's asked while getting a remedial share of touches. I wouldn't even be banging down the door to resign if I was him.
 

Zimmy Lives

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Well, considering Jerry believes a marquis receiver is necessary for a championship team, I guess it is going to happen. The timing is not going to perfect but it it needs to get done at some point.
 
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