Thursday 18 June 2015 17:48, UK
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is not worried about the threat of Dez Bryant missing regular season games if the star wide receiver does not receive a long-term deal.
Bryant is scheduled to make $12.8m this season after receiving the Cowboys’ franchise player tag which kept him off the free agent market but is unhappy that he has so far been unable to agree a long-term contract extension with the team.
The 26-year-old took to Twitter on Wednesday to voice his stance: “Everybody voicing opinions...13 mil is cool but where is my security? I'll wait ...5 years without complaining… So how am I selfish? #family1”
The Cowboys have until July 15 to agree a contract extension; otherwise Bryant will be forced to play the season under the franchise tag.
Given the lack of progress so far, an extension appears unlikely in the coming weeks but Jones is confident Bryant’s competitive nature and loyalty to his team-mates will ensure he is available for the Cowboys’ first regular season game against the New York Giants.
"If we're still in a franchise situation with Dez, I have no doubt that he'll be leading the way against the New York Giants," Jones said during the team's second minicamp practice on Wednesday.
"We just know how competitive Dez is and how much he wants to beat the Giants and how much he wants to support his team-mates."
Bryant’s agent Tom Condon told Sirius XM NFL Radio earlier this week his client is willing to miss games if an extension is not agreed: “In my conversations with him, he’s indicated that he’s willing to do that.”
“The only offer we’ve ever received from the Cowboys was the same offer that they gave to Dez prior to the time that he played the last year of his rookie contract. Since then we’ve had conversations, but nothing with regard to any negotiation.
“I think from their perspective they’re looking at this year as a franchise tag which is a substantial number – close to $12m and change. And then next year they can do it again and their average over the two years is basically $14m. And so they can go year-by-year if they would like.
“The problem, of course, is that you don’t then have Dez at any time during the preseason and from Dez’s comments lately, you may not have him during the regular season for some undetermined period of time.”
