The offseason minicamp for the Dallas Cowboys opened yesterday and, as expected, Dez Bryant did not attend. Bryant and the Cowboys are in the middle of a classic NFL contract dispute, but this one has the makings of something ugly.
Last week, Bryant let it be known that he would sit out the Cowboys regular season opener against the Giants if he did not secure a long term contract. Bryant does not want to play the 2015 season under the franchise tag, which is a one year deal. The current franchise value for Wide Receivers is $12.83 million dollars this season. Bryant would much prefer a long term contract, and is looking for Calvin Johnson type money. Johnson signed an 8 year, $132 million deal in 2012, with $48.7 million guaranteed. Johnson has long term security and the guaranteed money that Bryant is seeking.
There are two major roadblocks in these negotiations. The first is the league money being paid to Wide Receivers is down across the league. Jeremy Maclin signed with Kansas City for 5 years, 55 million (22.5 guaranteed). Randall Cobb resigned with the Packers for 4 years and 40 million (13 guaranteed). Granted, neither of these players are in Dez Bryant’s league but the 11 and 10 million average salary ranks them both in the top 10 at the position.
1)- Calvin Johnson- 16.2 million
2)- Mike Wallace- 12 million
3)- Vincent Jackson- 11.1 million
4t)- Larry Fitzgerald- 11 million
4t)- Jeremy Maclin- 11 million
6)- Randall Cobb- 10 million
7)- Jordy Nelson- 9.7 million
8)- Victor Cruz- 8.6 million
9)- Pierre Garcon- 8.5 million
10)- Antonio Brown- 8.4 million
An argument can be made that Dez is better than every WR on that list. In fact, only Calvin Johnson and Antonio Brown (who is also grumbling about his contract) are even in the same league. So Dez is right in wanting his money.
But Dallas is playing hardball, and negotiations are at a standstill. Which leads me to the second roadblock, the Cowboys salary cap. Dallas is in ok shape for 2015, currently 12.5 million under the cap (and that number includes Bryant’s franchise hold). However, things are dire in 2016. As of today, the Cowboys are only 27 million below the cap. A monster extension to Bryant would eat up plenty of that money, because of the signing and workout bonuses that would be involved. Tony Romo will have to be renegotiated in 2015, due to his 20.8 million cap hit. At least he can be, there is nothing Dallas can do next year for Tyron Smith and his 14 million dollar cap hit. He costs the same no matter what they do so that is locked in. Same with Brandon Carr and his 13.8 million cap hit. The Cowboys also need a running back, with the departure of DeMarco Murray, so some of that money should be saved for that eventuality as well.
The stance the Cowboys are taking makes sense, but they are in between a rock and a hard place. Due to the new CBA, if a new contract isn’t signed by July 15th, then Bryant must play the season under the franchise tag. We are not at zero hour yet, but it’s getting close. Bryant has to demand to sit out regular season games now, because sitting them out in September doesn’t change his leverage at all. In the past, holdouts could go to the regular season, but they don’t anymore. It all comes down to whether or not the Cowboys call Bryant’s bluff.