Dez Bryant is right to hold out
The Dallas Cowboys are playing hard ball with Dez Bryant, and he does not seem to mind one bit. The star receiver entering his sixth year in the league is threatening to withhold his services both in training camp and regular-season games if the two sides don’t agree to a long-term deal before the July 15 deadline, and he is right for doing so.
Currently, Bryant has been franchise-tagged by the Cowboys. In plain terms, Bryant would be playing on a one-year, $12.8 million guaranteed contract if he signed the tender and went to work without an extension to his contract. In theory, the Cowboys would be able to tag Bryant again after this year for 120 percent of his 2015 salary if they choose, putting these same wheels back in motion.
Most players sit out training camp in this situation and move on, but Bryant tweeted on Monday afternoon that he is willing to watch from home when the Cowboys take on the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football come Week 1. It would be a bold move by Bryant, who would be giving up approximately $750,000 for each week he stays away. However, the decision could pay off handsomely in the end.
As much as I love football…on my beautiful babies.. I apologize #cowboynation but I will not be there if no deal #fact
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) July 13, 2015
In the National Football League, only portions of contracts are guaranteed. If Bryant were to play the season on the franchise tag and get his knee blown out, or God forbid, something even worse, Dallas would only have to pay this year’s money and then be done with him. However, if Bryant holds out for 10 weeks (players must be on the team for at least six weeks to earn a year toward free agency) and comes back, he is cutting down the chances of injury by a significant margin.
Bryant would also be taking away much of Dallas’ motivation to slap the franchise tag on his again after this season. If Bryant shows that he is willing to sit out and put owner/general manager Jerry Jones in such an uncomfortable bind, the Cowboys are apt to either pay him big money in the offseason or allow another team to do so.
Bryant has been nothing but extremely productive since coming into the league out of Oklahoma State University in 2011. The All-Pro has caught 381 passes for 5,424 yards and 56 touchdowns during his career in Dallas, including 88 receptions for 1,320 yards and an eye-popping 16 touchdowns in 2015. Without Bryant, the Cowboys go from a potent offense to a middling one after losing running back DeMarco Murray in the offseason after he led the league in rushing.
Should he follow through with his threat and actually hold out into the regular season, Bryant will be labeled greedy and selfish by fans and media alike. Yet, he will be making the correct financial choice for himself and his family, something you can never fault someone for, regardless of the amount of zeroes on their check.
