Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant (88). Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Dez Bryant is threatening to miss the Dallas Cowboys’ regular-season opener unless he receives a long-term contract by July 15, according to an ESPN report on Friday.
If the Cowboys fail to sign the wide receiver to a contract before that date, he would have to play for a franchise tender offer of $12.823 million in 2015. That is the deadline for players with franchise tags to secure a new deal.
Cowboys Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith used a similar tactic in 1993, holding out for the first two games of the season before he signed a new deal after Dallas lost its first two games.
According to ESPN, the Cowboys have not made an offer to Bryant since before the 2014 season when he switched agents from Eugene Parker to Tom Condon.
“I’m just not going to comment about that,” Condon said. “Our goal is still to get something done on a long-term basis by the deadline.”
Bryant has not participated in the Cowboys’ OTA workouts but did show up at one OTA practice session and has been a part of individual drills. The five-year veteran does not have to show up next week for the team’s mandatory minicamp because he is not officially under contract.
Last season, Bryant had 88 receptions for 1,350 yards and a career-best 16 touchdowns. In five years with the Cowboys, he has 381 catches for 5,424 yards and 56 touchdowns.
