Cowboys, WR Bryant agree to 5-year contract

So while Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas can continue to thump their chests about importance to the success of their offenses, this idea that the Cowboys and Broncos will live or die in the win column by their presence on the field is somewhat erroneous. If it came and passed with no deal, Bryant said he “wouldn’t be there”, presumably meaning that he would stay away from training camp and regular season games. Otherwise, he would have been forced to play next season under the $12.8 million franchise tender for wide receivers.

The National Football League Players Association will go ahead with collusion charges against the clubs of Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas if they aren’t signed a long-term contract by their respective clubs before Wednesday’s deadline for franchise Players, according to ESPN.

Bryant was given the franchise tag because the two sides couldn’t agree on a long-term deal. Murray subsequently signed with the NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles.

Bryant had been threatening to skip training camp and possibly even games if he didn’t get a long-term deal. In truth, nothing has changed in regards to the wide receiver position in this modern NFL. “We value him. Other than Dez, nobody is prouder of his accomplishments”.

This deal reportedly makes Bryant the second-highest paid wide receiver in the National Football League next to Detroit Lions player Calvin Johnson.

Bryant, who had been tagged as a franchise player by Dallas, finalized the deal just prior to the deadline, the website reported, citing numerous reports putting the deal to be worth about million over five years with million guaranteed.

Like most of these deals, after the first year it becomes a year-to-year proposition for the Cowboys and the contract can be ripped up, thrown out, or renegotiated whenever they want.

But the prospect of playing without Bryant was more daunting for Dallas.

In five seasons with the Cowboys, Bryant has caught 381 passes for 5,424 yards and 56 touchdowns. He posted 88 catches for 1,320 yards and set a Cowboys single season record with 16 touchdown receptions.

Thomas told The AP this spring he also didn’t think his absence from the offseason program would hamper his timing with Manning, suggesting their three years together gave him confidence “we can pick up where we left off” whenever he signed his deal.