Dez Bryant Will Skip Training Camp, Games If He Doesn’t Get Deal By Wednesday
Dallas Cowboys All-Pro wide receiver Dez Bryant told the team he's prepared to skip training camp and real games if he doesn't get a long-term contract by Wednesday.
Bryant, a Lufkin native who led the NFL with 16 touchdown catches last season, reportedly called Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones personally last week and informed him of the news.
The Cowboys placed a franchise tag on Bryant after last season, which means he's set to receive $12.823 million in 2015 but does not have a guaranteed deal with Dallas after that.
The NFL's deadline for franchise-tagged players to receive long-term contracts is Wednesday.
If Bryant does not get the deal he wants, he told the team he will skip training camp and will sit out regular season games if necessary. He can't be fined for missing camp while under the franchise tag, but he would lose $752,000 for each game missed.
The Cowboys and Bryant's agents have only met face-to-face once and each presented contract proposals just before the Fourth of July, with no agreement.
Bryant has participated in some offseason workouts and attended minicamp, though he did not participate, which has left an impression with the Cowboys that his threats are just that.
Bryant caught 88 passes for 1,320 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2014, helping the Cowboys win the NFC East with a 12-4 record and reach the second round of the playoffs.
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