Dez Bryant tweet suggests Cowboys aren't equally dedicated to him
Wide receiver Dez Bryant tweeted on Tuesday that the Dallas Cowboys aren't as dedicated to him as he is to the team.
The tweet came in response to a fan who said, "I love how dedicated @DezBryant is to the @dallascowboys." Bryant will become an unrestricted free agent next month and is reportedly "all but resigned" to accepting the Cowboys' franchise tag as opposed to a new, long-term deal.
A report from Ed Werder of ESPN on Tuesday indicated that if Bryant is franchise-tagged, he would get $13 million as opposed to $30-to-40 million guaranteed from a long-term deal. He also would not participate in offseason activities.
Teams have a two-week window to apply the franchise tag, beginning Monday and running through March 2. The franchise tag number for wide receivers in the 2014 season was $12.312 million.
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Bryant has indicated that he would like to return to Dallas, saying last month that he plans on being with the Cowboys for the rest of his career. With the NFL scouting combine beginning on Tuesday, his Roc Nation Sports representatives are expected to hold contract talks with Cowboys officials for the first time in months, reports Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
"Regardless, I'm a Cowboy," Bryant said at a charity basketball game in Arizona last month. "But it is what it is. It's business. I am a free agent. I'm very confident that something is going to happen, something is going to get done and have these Cowboys fans excited for a long time."
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Bryant, 26, made $1.78 million in base salary last season, his fifth in the NFL and the last of his rookie contract. He caught 88 receptions for 1,320 yards and a league-high 16 touchdowns. He was also named a first-team All-Pro selection and earned his second straight Pro Bowl honors.
The Cowboys went 12-4 last season, winning the NFC East and reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2009.
- Mike Fiammetta
