The Cowboys Truth Behind Dez' 'Boycott' Threat
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IRVING (105.3 THE FAN) - Dez Bryant recently retweeted my comment that "this ISNT a 'media debate' (no matter how hard the media tries).''
And oh how we do try, as we struggle to inject ourselves into the fray that takes us from now until 3 p.m. Wednesday, the deadline -- er, "Dezline'' -- to move from the franchise tag (one year) which will have him play the season under a $12.83 million price tag ... to a "Cowboys For Life'' deal that will keep him under contract for the long-term.
A national report insisted on Monday morning that Bryant contacted Cowboys COO Stephen Jones to announce his intention to boycott part of Dallas' upcoming season should he not received his contractual desires.
Problem: That renewed threat never occurred.
"No, he did not,'' Jones tells me today when I ask about a recent/last week threat delivered to him by Dez. 'That would be inaccurate.''
Jones chooses his words carefully here; he's not saying he's unaware of Bryant's views here. And that's because Bryant went on the record with me and 105.3 The Fan exactly 30 days ago to announce that his threat is "legit. It's not bogus. And it could be longer than just the opener.''
Conventional wisdom says that's unlikely, as Dez would lose about $755,000 for every week he misses. But that's not the issue at hand right now. The central point is negotiations, very difficult negotiations, that have to be just right for the player and just right for the team. There is no mystery to that fact, even as some attempt to cloud it all with "sources'' and wobbly information.
I have Dez on the record with his thoughts. I have Stephen on the record with his.
And except for the involvement of agent Tom Condon, and maybe just maybe the involvement of Jerry Jones himself, the rest of this is white noise.
UPDATE: Dez Bryant sent out the following message on Twitter on Monday afternoon.
[tweet https://twitter.com/DezBryant/status/620667975763243008 width='330']
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