- Joined
- Apr 7, 2013
- Messages
- 119,732
Stephen Jones: Cowboys think world of Dez
February, 17, 2015
By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com
INDIANAPOLIS -- Dez Bryant caused something of a stir Tuesday when he tweeted he wasn't sure if the Dallas Cowboys are as dedicated to him as he is to them.
Bryant's tweet was in response to a fan, but it came not long after Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said the team is leaning toward using the franchise tag on the Pro Bowl receiver.
"Well, he's not feeling the right vibes then," Jones said. "We feel strongly about him. We worked hard to do a long-term deal with him and we'll continue to work hard at it. If we don't get one, then [the franchise tag] justs show him how much we care about him [that] we don't want to expose him."
While the final figures will not be in until the 2015 salary cap is set, the franchise tag for wide receivers figures to be around $13 million.
Bryant wants the security of a long-term deal that brings more guaranteed money, not just a one-year tag.
If Bryant -- or any player in his situation -- wants to be upset with management, they need to turn their attention to the NFL Players Association for not fighting harder to get rid of the franchise tag in the most recent collective bargaining agreement.
The team is simply using a tool that was agreed upon by two sides in negotiations.
If the team ends up tagging Bryant, he can choose to sit out of the voluntary offseason program and organized team activities without penalty. If he signs the tender, he would only need to show up for the mandatory June minicamp.
Earlier Tuesday, Jones said he did not have any worries about Bryant's reaction if the receiver was tagged.
"I think Dez will be a pro and he'll play," Jones said.
There is a downside for the team having to commit a significant amount of salary-cap space in one year to one player. In a multi-year deal, the player's first year cap figure would be low because a high percentage of the money comes in the form of a signing bonus that gets prorated over the length of the deal or, at most, five years.
In the Cowboys' case, having Bryant at $13 million does not take away their ability to shop in free agency, but it might limit all the shopping they would want to do. (Quick aside -- even if they had all the money in the world, they have learned that spending money does not guarantee victories.) The Cowboys put the franchise tag on Anthony Spencer in 2012 and '13, paying him $19.4 million. He produced a career-high 11 sacks in 2012 and was named to the Pro Bowl. In 2013, he played in one game before needing microfracture knee surgery.
"It's not like it's a bad deal for the player," Jones said. "They get a lot of money guaranteed Day 1 and it's certainly not a terrible deal. But who knows? We've still got weeks to go here before we make that decision so a lot of things can happen. But I can say this: We sure think the world of Dez."
February, 17, 2015
By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com
INDIANAPOLIS -- Dez Bryant caused something of a stir Tuesday when he tweeted he wasn't sure if the Dallas Cowboys are as dedicated to him as he is to them.
Bryant's tweet was in response to a fan, but it came not long after Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said the team is leaning toward using the franchise tag on the Pro Bowl receiver.
"Well, he's not feeling the right vibes then," Jones said. "We feel strongly about him. We worked hard to do a long-term deal with him and we'll continue to work hard at it. If we don't get one, then [the franchise tag] justs show him how much we care about him [that] we don't want to expose him."
While the final figures will not be in until the 2015 salary cap is set, the franchise tag for wide receivers figures to be around $13 million.
Bryant wants the security of a long-term deal that brings more guaranteed money, not just a one-year tag.
If Bryant -- or any player in his situation -- wants to be upset with management, they need to turn their attention to the NFL Players Association for not fighting harder to get rid of the franchise tag in the most recent collective bargaining agreement.
The team is simply using a tool that was agreed upon by two sides in negotiations.
If the team ends up tagging Bryant, he can choose to sit out of the voluntary offseason program and organized team activities without penalty. If he signs the tender, he would only need to show up for the mandatory June minicamp.
Earlier Tuesday, Jones said he did not have any worries about Bryant's reaction if the receiver was tagged.
"I think Dez will be a pro and he'll play," Jones said.
There is a downside for the team having to commit a significant amount of salary-cap space in one year to one player. In a multi-year deal, the player's first year cap figure would be low because a high percentage of the money comes in the form of a signing bonus that gets prorated over the length of the deal or, at most, five years.
In the Cowboys' case, having Bryant at $13 million does not take away their ability to shop in free agency, but it might limit all the shopping they would want to do. (Quick aside -- even if they had all the money in the world, they have learned that spending money does not guarantee victories.) The Cowboys put the franchise tag on Anthony Spencer in 2012 and '13, paying him $19.4 million. He produced a career-high 11 sacks in 2012 and was named to the Pro Bowl. In 2013, he played in one game before needing microfracture knee surgery.
"It's not like it's a bad deal for the player," Jones said. "They get a lot of money guaranteed Day 1 and it's certainly not a terrible deal. But who knows? We've still got weeks to go here before we make that decision so a lot of things can happen. But I can say this: We sure think the world of Dez."