I love Dez Bryant. I really, really do. He is one of the top
receivers in the NFL and is a huge weapon for the Dallas Cowboys. Yet, I can’t
help but feel he is making one of the most idiotic decisions a player could
make regarding his contract decisions
.
So far, the Cowboys have put the franchise tag on Bryant for
the 2015 NFL season, which should guarantee him $12.823 million for this year. Bryant and the Cowboys have until July 15th
to work out a long-term deal or he will be forced to play under the tag this
season. That means no long-term deal can be worked out until after the season is over.
So that begs the question of Bryant’s latest negotiation tactic. On Friday, Bryant confirmed a Chris Mortensen report that he plans to miss the season-opener if he does not get a deal done by July 15th. According to Mike Fisher, Bryant might even extend his hold-out past the opener. My
question to Dez is why?
If the Cowboys call Bryant’s bluff and go past the deadline,
Bryant will be sitting out for nothing. If he misses the opener or anymore games
after that, what will bring him back onto the field? The Cowboys can’t sign him
to a long-term deal, so all he will be doing is losing money. In his first
three-years in the league, he has made up to $11, 810,500 on a five-year deal. So
it makes too much sense for him to just sign the franchise tag and push negotiations
to next year.
Plus, Dez loves to play football and does not want to be
away from his team. He wants to be with them during every aspect of the
off-season, as we saw when he came to practice during OTAs. You can’t keep this
kid off the football field, and the Cowboys are going to take full advantage of
it.
My prediction? A standoff until July 15th and the
Cowboys sign him to a long-term deal. Both sides want this done and this
deadline will force them to make the deal. But, no need to worry about Dez
missing any games this season; it is just not in his DNA.
