Dez Says "I'm Going To Valley Ranch"
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IRVING (CBSDFW.COM) - Dez Bryant does not have a Dallas Cowboys contract and this week's OTAs are voluntary. That gives him ample reason to stay away from team headquarters.
Nevertheless, the star receiver told me on Wednesday night, "I'm going to Valley Ranch on Thursday.''
His Cowboys completed a second of three days of OTAs on Wednesday, and did so without him. Bryant's absence was notable enough that quarterback Tony Romo was only half-joking when he said, "When you have him, it makes things a bit easier. Tell him to come on back."
Bryant won't necessarily be "back" on Thursday. He has yet to sign the franchise-tag tender guaranteeing him $12.823 million this season, and he's aware the real deadline is July 15 in terms of him and the Cowboys settling on a long-term "Cowboys For Life" deal by July 15. This visit could be like the one he told me about two weeks ago: more social than financial, more weight-room than practice-field.
But it is at the very least an attempt at a show of unity -- even though the sides are not yet unified on his future salary.
"We love Dez Bryant," coach Jason Garrett said. "Dez Bryant's a heck of a football player. He's the right kind of guy. He's got great football character and hopefully some of his situations from a business standpoint can be worked out and he'll back in here working out with us."
And on Thursday, "back in here" doing… something.
