It is decision day for the Dallas Cowboys and Dez Bryant. The Cowboys have until 4 p.m. on Wednesday to get the wide receiver inked to a long-term contract or Bryant will be playing under his franchise tag or not playing at all. Bryant is threatening a lengthy holdout for Dallas. According to ESPN's Ed Werder, Bryant has threatened to miss several regular-season games if he does not get a favorable contract before the deadline. However, the Cowboys are not buying in on threat.
According to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, the Cowboys do not buy the idea that Bryant will skip all of camp and regular season games if he does not get a contract by the deadline. Rapoport reports that the Cowboys and Bryant are still negotiating contract terms, but they appear to be very far apart on the numbers. The wide receiver is likely looking for a deal close to what Calvin Johnson is playing under that pays him $16 million per season over seven years. The Cowboys originally offered an annual salary of $10 million to which Bryant laughed in their faces.
According to ESPN's Todd Archer, the Cowboys are well aware that their offense will suffer without Bryant. Wide receiver coach Derek Dooley notes that Bryant is the go-to guy, the leader and the x-factor to the offense.
"He's not only taken a tremendous leadership role in the group, really setting the example of how you do things, he's expanded his route inventory," Dooley said, via ESPN.com's Todd Archer. "He's played X. He's played Z. He's played in the slot and every day he went out there and was the same player. Every route, every opportunity he had he took advantage of it. So he's made a big jump this offseason."
Without Bryant, the Cowboys will be counting on depth to get them by. Terrance Williams will be the No.1 guy for Tony Romo. Last year he put up 621 yards and eight touchdowns. His role will greatly increase along with Devin Street and Cole Beasley. Both players are expected to be starters with Bryant missing games. The Cowboys will also likely be forced to look at the free agent market where players like Reggie Wayne, James Jones and Wes Welker sit waiting.
Bryant could easily get inked to a deal on Wednesday if Demaryius Thomas signs. According to the Denver Post, the Broncos placed a deal with $13 million per year on the table. Bryant will likely want more, but it would give the Cowboys a starting point to ramp up negotiations. Most sources believe chances are slim that Bryant inks a deal at 4 p.m., but there is a chance.
