News: PFT: Dez Bryant knew not to negotiate directly with an owner

[NewsBot]

Last week’s last-slow-week story regarding NFL players representing themselves and the NFL Players Association apparently facilitating that practice has died down, due in part to the return of training camps — and due in part to a realization by agents that the NFLPA isn’t trying to undermine their employment. But there’s one lingering anecdote worth…http://youwillnotrackme2.net/b.gif?host=profootballtalk.nbcsports.com&blog=&post=2338480&subd=nbcprofootballtalk&ref=&feed=1

But there’s one lingering anecdote worth sharing, because it demonstrates the challenge a player faces when a player tries to negotiate his own contract.

Last year, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was trying to negotiate directly with receiver Dez Bryant. Bryant, as a league source explains it to PFT, eventually asked Jones if Jones could cover Bryant on the football field.

Jones admitted that he couldn’t do it. And Bryant then said something along the lines of, “Now you know how I feel.”

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[WoodysGirl]

Interesting tidbit, if true

 

[xwalker]

Interesting tidbit, if true

I've heard more than 1 report that Dez does not even know the meaning of a salary cap. He thinks that the only reason they didn't give him what he wanted immediately is because Jerry didn't want to spend his own money.

Stephen basically confirmed this in an interview that I heard. He said they tried to explain to Dez that there is a limited amount of money for the team and that the more they spend on him, the less they have for the remainder of the team.

 

[erod]

I've heard more than 1 report that Dez does not even know the meaning of a salary cap. He thinks that the only reason they didn't give him what he wanted immediately is because Jerry didn't want to spend his own money.

Stephen basically confirmed this in an interview that I heard. He said they tried to explain to Dez that there is a limited amount of money for the team and that the more they spend on him, the less they have for the remainder of the team.

Yep, and this also explains why the Cowboys insisted that part of his guaranteed signing bonus be deferred. They want some protection that he'll be financially solvent throughout a long-term contract, so if they exercise his options in years 4 and 5 (which is likely), he'll get the rest of the bonus then in case he and his dependents have blown through his cash by then.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

Bryant, as a league source explains it to PFT, eventually asked Jones if Jones could cover Bryant on the football field.

Jones admitted that he couldn’t do it. And Bryant then said something along the lines of, “Now you know how I feel.”

Sounds like a smart man to me.

 

[xwalker]

Yep, and this also explains why the Cowboys insisted that part of his guaranteed signing bonus be deferred. They want some protection that he'll be financially solvent throughout a long-term contract, so if they exercise his options in years 4 and 5 (which is likely), he'll get the rest of the bonus then in case he and his dependents have blown through his cash by then.

Yes, that is my conclusion on the reason for the deferred money. Normally, deferred money is only done when a team has cash flow issues which seems highly unlikely for the Cowboys. The only reason that I can come up with for the deferral is that they didn't want him to have access to all of the money immediately.

Jerry also focused a lot on Roc Nation in his interviews after the contract was signed. That also seemed to be related to Dez not spending all of the money immediately. Jerry said he is convinced that Dez will listen to Jay-Z (repeated really listen for emphasis) in terms of taking advise. Roc Nation was advertised as handling his endorsements; however, it seems that their primary role may be as his money manager.

The HBO series Ballers is really interesting and seems to generally portray these issues with some amount of accuracy. The Rock's character is not an agent, but works for a money management company which seems to parallel Roc Nations' role with Dez. There is a character that is a player who is up for a new contract but that is already completely broke.

 

[burmafrd]

I find it hard to believe that Dez really did not get the salary cap. You would have to have about a room temperature IQ for that.

 

[erod]

Yes, that is my conclusion on the reason for the deferred money. Normally, deferred money is only done when a team has cash flow issues which seems highly unlikely for the Cowboys. The only reason that I can come up with for the deferral is that they didn't want him to have access to all of the money immediately.

Jerry also focused a lot on Roc Nation in his interviews after the contract was signed. That also seemed to be related to Dez not spending all of the money immediately. Jerry said he is convinced that Dez will listen to Jay-Z (repeated really listen for emphasis) in terms of taking advise. Roc Nation was advertised as handling his endorsements; however, it seems that their primary role may be as his money manager.

The HBO series Ballers is really interesting and seems to generally portray these issues with some amount of accuracy. The Rock's character is not an agent, but works for a money management company which seems to parallel Roc Nations' role with Dez. There is a character that is a player who is up for a new contract but that is already completely broke.

It's really disturbing, this epidemic of blowing through millions of dollars by today's athletes. It's far too common. So many of the guys in the 70s and 80s managed to build a pretty good life after football with far lesser salaries in comparison.

You'd think the much higher multiples in salaries today would lessen that trend, but instead it seems to be a rapidly growing problem.

 

[erod]

I find it hard to believe that Dez really did not get the salary cap. You would have to have about a room temperature IQ for that.

I think it was more about how the Lions managed to pay Calvin Johnson, so why couldn't the Cowboys do the same? Jerry had to explain that the CJ contract was hamstringing the Lions, and that the Cowboys didn't want to be in that position. Dez wasn't buying it.

 

[Plumfool]

Sounds like a smart man to me.

Very

 

[xwalker]

It's really disturbing, this epidemic of blowing through millions of dollars by today's athletes. It's far too common. So many of the guys in the 70s and 80s managed to build a pretty good life after football with far lesser salaries in comparison.

You'd think the much higher multiples in salaries today would lessen that trend, but instead it seems to be a rapidly growing problem.

I guess it was easier to see that the money wouldn't last a lifetime back then. Society in general also seems to be different. I guess Rock Stars always lived the high-life, but it does not seem that it was a big of a focus in terms of what was portrayed to the general public as compared to what is portrayed by the modern hip-hop culture that seems over-focused on bling.

 

[John813]

It's really disturbing, this epidemic of blowing through millions of dollars by today's athletes. It's far too common. So many of the guys in the 70s and 80s managed to build a pretty good life after football with far lesser salaries in comparison.

You'd think the much higher multiples in salaries today would lessen that trend, but instead it seems to be a rapidly growing problem.

I think with social media-trying to have the latest car/name-merchandise , "friends" who need money, and a lot more toys/houses that cost in the millions, I can see how players can blow through millions just like that.

 

[casmith07]

It's PFT, so I'll take it with a mountain of salt.

 

[casmith07]

Yes, that is my conclusion on the reason for the deferred money. Normally, deferred money is only done when a team has cash flow issues which seems highly unlikely for the Cowboys. The only reason that I can come up with for the deferral is that they didn't want him to have access to all of the money immediately.

Jerry also focused a lot on Roc Nation in his interviews after the contract was signed. That also seemed to be related to Dez not spending all of the money immediately. Jerry said he is convinced that Dez will listen to Jay-Z (repeated really listen for emphasis) in terms of taking advise. Roc Nation was advertised as handling his endorsements; however, it seems that their primary role may be as his money manager.

The HBO series Ballers is really interesting and seems to generally portray these issues with some amount of accuracy. The Rock's character is not an agent, but works for a money management company which seems to parallel Roc Nations' role with Dez. There is a character that is a player who is up for a new contract but that is already completely broke.

I really want to watch that show. I've heard that it's pretty good, and I'm a huge fan of Dwayne Johnson. I wish I could pay that guy to train me in the gym.

 

[erod]

I guess it was easier to see that the money wouldn't last a lifetime back then. Society in general also seems to be different. I guess Rock Stars always lived the high-life, but it does not seem that it was a big of a focus in terms of what was portrayed to the general public as compared to what is portrayed by the modern hip-hop culture that seems over-focused on bling.

You've probably heard the theory that you could take all the money in America and distribute it evenly among the population, and within five years it would eventually end up back where it started.

I used to disagree with that theory. Age and experience has shown me that it is absolutely true.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

It's really disturbing, this epidemic of blowing through millions of dollars by today's athletes. It's far too common. So many of the guys in the 70s and 80s managed to build a pretty good life after football with far lesser salaries in comparison.

You'd think the much higher multiples in salaries today would lessen that trend, but instead it seems to be a rapidly growing problem.

Athletes were going broke in the 70s and 80s just as frequently as they are today.

You just couldn't follow them then as easily as you can now when they are no longer playing.

Also none of us know what Dez's financial situation is. But let's say it is/was as bad as you character assassins say it is. First of all who cares? Let Dez live his life.

But logically if the situation was as bad as you think... wouldn't he have accepted the deal last year that the Cowboys thought they were close to signing?

 

[WoodysGirl]

I've heard more than 1 report that Dez does not even know the meaning of a salary cap. He thinks that the only reason they didn't give him what he wanted immediately is because Jerry didn't want to spend his own money.

Stephen basically confirmed this in an interview that I heard. He said they tried to explain to Dez that there is a limited amount of money for the team and that the more they spend on him, the less they have for the remainder of the team.

To be honest, I think your opinion of Dez as a man is so low that you're willing to believe he's basically a dummy, got lucky as an athlete, and who barely knows his hand from his foot. Every post throughout the negotiation process has led me to believe, you think he needs his hand to be a functional person in society.

Yes, he's had maturity issues, but in no way does that mean he's a dummy, which is what your post implies.

So, in that vein, I'll just say, your post is full of horsecrap. lol

 

[TonyS]

Am I not getting something here? Is this article trying to say that Jerry was trying to negotiate the deal with Dez directly by usurping his agents' role(s) in the process? Was Dez being represented at the time or was this in the middle of his move to a different agent? If he had an agent at the time it seems highly unlikely that Jerry would try to strong arm a deal with Dez. Now coaching him on what offer to bring to his agent might have been going on with Jerry as he is a salesman. I think the words, "trying to negotiate directly" might have been taken out of context.

 

[xwalker]

I really want to watch that show. I've heard that it's pretty good, and I'm a huge fan of Dwayne Johnson. I wish I could pay that guy to train me in the gym.

We've watched 4 episodes now and it's good.

Yes, the Rock looks more like a football player than many football players, even in his mid forties.

 

[casmith07]

We've watched 4 episodes now and it's good.

Yes, the Rock looks more like a football player than many football players, even in his mid forties.

He's only 43.