NFL PLAYER NEWS

Cowboys tag WR Bryant

The Sports Xchange

March 02, 2015 at 1:45 pm.

Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant (88). Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Wide receiver Dez Bryant was officially given the restricted franchise designation by the Dallas Cowboys on Monday.

The marker gives the Cowboys refusal rights in free agency and guarantees Bryant a one-year contract worth $12.82 million if the two sides cannot reach a long-term agreement by July 15. The non-exclusive franchise tag leaves open the possibility a team could lure Bryant out of Dallas, but it would be prohibitive.

Not only would Bryant need to sign a deal the Cowboys couldn’t match, the acquiring team must also cough up two first-round picks.

Bryant said via social media he was frustrated the Cowboys didn’t “feel the same” about him, but coach Jason Garrett said in Indianapolis that Dallas very much views Bryant as a big part of their future.

“The biggest thing that everyone needs to know is how much we appreciate Dez Bryant and the kind of football player we think he is,” Garrett said last month at the scouting combine. “Obviously his impact is huge. He’s one of those guys that, 60 to 65 times a game, he breaks the huddle and the defense is looking for No. 88. He’s a rare guy that way, and for him to have the production that he’s had at this point in his career has been remarkable, because he’s been getting that kind of attention — really, from Day 1. We love Dez, we believe he’s the right kind of guy, he loves football, he loves being part of the Cowboys, he makes a huge impact on our football team.”

Using the franchise designation to keep Bryant all but assures the Cowboys can’t prevent running back DeMarco Murray from entering unrestricted free agency March 10. Teams can begin contacting Murray’s representatives this weekend. Murray was offered a four-year, $16 million contract at the end of the season after he led the NFL in rushing, amassed 511 total touches and won Offensive Player of the Year honors.