Rapoport: Cowboys Nervous About Bryant's Off-The-Field Behavior
IRVING (105.3 THE FAN) -- The Dallas Cowboys and Dez Bryant have yet to reach an agreement that would prevent the star receiver from hitting the free-agent market this offseason.
According to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Cowboys are hesitant to offer big money to a player they believe has legitimate off-the-field issues.
"It comes down to the Cowboys not trusting him off the field, being very nervous about his behavior off the field," said Rapoport on Shan & RJ on 105.3 The Fan.
According to Rapoport, the Cowboys' best offer to Bryant is currently a 10-year, $114 million deal with $20 million guaranteed -- "Which is nothing for an elite receiver," says Rapoport.
The first six years of the deal would average $10 million per season -- short of the $13-$14 million he would command on the open market.
For comparison, Detroit's Calvin Johnson -- widely considered the best receiver in the NFL -- signed an eight-year deal worth up to $132 million, including $48 million in guarantees.
Rapoport recently visited the police station in Bryant's hometown of DeSoto, Texas. He was provided six incidents to which police were called to Bryant's home over the last four years.
The incidents include a sleeping baby being locked inside a car, a harassment incident, and a robbery at the house. These are in addition to the highly-publicized domestic incident between Dez and his mother.
The last incident was reported in November 2013, and none have resulted in convictions.
"If you guarantee him the $40 million that he probably should make based off his talents, and one of these off-the-field incidents goes really, really, wrong -- it's the Cowboys who are in big trouble for the salary cap and their future commitments," said Rapoport.
Ian Rapoport joins Shan & RJ
(Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
However, Rapoport says he would be "stunned" if Bryant doesn't end up with the Cowboys next season -- even if that means placing the franchise tag on him.
"He's great, and you don't want to lose a great player," said Rapoport. "They've put so much into him to helping him along to become a great player and a better person...Barring something really bad, I would be stunned if he's not a Cowboy next year."
The Cowboys hold the option of using the tag on Bryant this offseason (and next). But Bryant expressed to 105.3 The Fan that he would be "highly disappointed" if the Cowboys did so.
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Talking candidly, Vice President Stephen Jones wouldn't rule it out.
"In Dez's case, we're going to do everything we can to put a fair contract out there for him," said Jones. "That tag is out there for a reason, and we certainly have it in our pocket to use. If for some reason we couldn't come to an agreement with him, then we'd certainly have to look at all our alternatives."
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