NBC: Stephen Jones denies that Dez Bryant threatened to miss time **merged**

[erod]

I think Dez wants that big check NOW because he needs it now. It's a long way to September 14th if you're living on credit cards.

Word among local media is that he's broke right now.

 

[cowboyvic]

I am glad for the fiscal responsibility, and hope the team stays on that track. Super Bowl contenders don't have large portions of salary cap tied up in one wide receiver, no matter how good, and no matter how beloved.

So letting Murray go, and now this with Dez is just fine with you ? let's see if you feel that way when this team does not make the playoffs. and waste the last few years of Romo.

 

[cowboyblue22]

dez Bryant wants a long term contract wants to be paid like number one wr in nfl . and it don't matter who its with whatever team all this dez wants to be cow boy for life is just business is just that he is just like murry who ever pays him the most is where he will go period

 

[cowboyvic]

Dez likely has 2-3 dominant years left before the inevitable downturn begins. Dallas owns two of those years with franchise tags right now.

The pressure is on Dez, not Dallas. The Cowboys are handling this beautifully.

If he wants more money and security, he has to drop his demands a bit. Dallas has to do.......NOTHING.

What happens if the cowboys start the season 0 and 2, losing to the Giants and eagles. will you and the cowboys still feel the same way.Romo and Witten don't have time to wait.

 

[dstovall5]

Cowboys got all the leverage. If Dez really does sit out a couple games after his franchise tag, all he's doing is validating the Cowboys concerns about him.

If it needs to be done, Cowboys will just franchise tag him two years in a row, and trade him away. He got zero leverage, he can threaten that he'll sit out all he wants. He'd be doing more harm than good to himself if he does that.

 

[erod]

What happens if the cowboys start the season 0 and 2, losing to the Giants and eagles. will you and the cowboys still feel the same way.Romo and Witten don't have time to wait.

I would feel like Dez is the dumbest human in Dallas. Why would you sit out and throw money away when the Cowboys aren't even allowed to talk to you about your contract?

 

[AzorAhai]

Why are we only hearing this crap about Dez? I've heard next to nothing from the D. Thomas and J. Houston camps, yet Dez negotiations are incredibly public. Mostly from the Dez camp. It's really getting irritating and negotiations should be kept private.

 

[DallasInDC]

If true, what this tells me is that the two groups are far enough apart that both sides feel they still need to posture. If they were close, they would be working on the minor details to get the contract signed. I am now starting to lean towards the front office is content with the going with the tag this year ad letting one of the other WR FA set the market either this year or next.

 

[xwalker]

Loyalty? Did he not show up every week and ball out? I don't have the numbers in front of me....but did Dez lead the league in receiving TDs last year while making 2m/year? Did he once complain about the fact that he has been a top 3 WR for the last 3 years...but paid like he was in the bottom 3rd of the league?

He would need to complain to the NFL player association about that, not to the Cowboys.

That lower pay for rookie contracts is what makes more money available for veteran players like him on their 2nd contract. The net effect of keeping rookie contracts low is that there is more money for veteran players, especially the Star players. Players like Dez will end up making more over their entire career because of the low rookie contracts. Back when rookie contracts were super big, much of the money went to players that were busts like Jamarcus Russell. There is a fixed amount for all players under the salary cap. Every time a guy like Jamarcus Russell gets 60M for doing nothing, that is 60M out of the system for all other players.

 

[erod]

So letting Murray go, and now this with Dez is just fine with you ? let's see if you feel that way when this team does not make the playoffs. and waste the last few years of Romo.

Relax, he's going nowhere. Dez is a player, and he'll play.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

I think Dez wants that big check NOW because he needs it now. It's a long way to September 14th if you're living on credit cards.

Word among local media is that he's broke right now.

IF this is true....his desire to be a Cowboy for life will get trumped. He saw what just happened to Murray. And I am not even suggesting Dallas handles Murray wrong. But Dez has a much longer track record of production and impact than Murray....and he did it while being underpaid. Dallas better understand that Dez impact on this team is bigger than his numbers (which are phenomenal)... but he makes it easier for everyone on this team to get open...and that play against Green Bay that he made...cannot be made by anyone else on this team...and maybe no one else in the NFL.

 

[mickswag]

**Update** Stephen Responds:

 

[erod]

If true, what this tells me is that the two groups are far enough apart that both sides feel they still need to posture. If they were close, they would be working on the minor details to get the contract signed. I am now starting to lean towards the front office is content with the going with the tag this year ad letting one of the other WR FA set the market either this year or next.

My guess is the money is pretty established, but Dallas wants off-the-field protection clauses that Dez doesn't want to accept.

 

[CyberB0b]

Does anyone think this guy is in a financial position to turn down nearly 800k a week? This is comical, and the Cowboys know it.

 

[erod]

Thanks. The misinformation the next 48 hours is going to be running rampant, I suspect.

Most of the northeastern media hates the Cowboys, so they're going to be poking this fire all they can.

And this will only bring the sides closer actually.

 

[Aikmaniac]

Didn't Irvin threaten to sit out games when he was franchised back in the day?

 

[Bungarian]

This move is stupid.

Both the team and Dez with his agent want to get a done deal. Neither want to look like they caved on the deal. This sets up the team as looking like they caved to Dez's demands if a deal is done. The team has made it clear they think Dez will play so nothing is gained with the threat.

It makes Dez look desperate.

 

[cowboyblue22]

so I guess mike fisher is full of it then didn't know what he was talking about

 

[NickZepp]

If he doesn't want to sign here on our terms let's look to trade him and get something out of him.

 

[erod]

Relax and enjoy the drama. It's fascinating if you let it be.

Dez will be on the field for the Giants either way. I guarantee it.