Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant is finally playing hardball with the team in his contract negotiations, informing the front office that his threats to hold out are very real and he is willing to miss regular season games.
Sources: @DezBryant personally called Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones to say he won't attend camp, will miss real games unless signed by Wed.
— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) July 13, 2015
Bryant was hit with the franchise tag this offseason, which would pay out $12.8 million making him the highest paid wide receiver in 2015 along with Denver Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas, who was also franchise tagged. Last season Bryant was one of the most productive wide receivers in the league, hauling in a league-best 16 touchdowns.
Bryant has missed just two games over the past three seasons, caught at least 88 passes every year, topped 1,200 yards receiving and scored double-digit touchdowns. Bryant has also had myriad problems off the field that might be giving the Cowboys pause regarding a long-term commitment.
Bryant was arrested in 2012 for allegedly striking his mother Angela Bryant, and this offseason was the center of rumors of a videotape of Bryant and a woman that would carry similar impact to the leaked footage of ex-Baltimore Raven Ray Rice striking his then-fiancee in an Atlantic City elevator, knocking her unconscious.
Bryant’s threat to sit out “games” is bizarre, because after Wednesday the Cowboys are not allowed to sign him to a long-term deal, and he’d merely be forfeiting $752,000 per game. There have also been reports alluding to the Cowboys being aware of some kind of financial issue for Bryant.
Pro Football Talk, via Jason Cole, reported that “they believe he’s bluffing about missing games, and that he is having money problems.”
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