Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant (88). Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant, who has a July 15 deadline approaching to translate his one-year franchise tender into a long-term contract, may be making some progress with the team.
Tom Condon, the agent for Bryant, and the Cowboys had their first face-to-face meeting in nearly four months on Friday at the team’s facility, according to ESPN.com sources. Bryant’s other agent, Kim Miale of Roc Nation, was also in the meetings.
Bryant boycotted most of the team’s offseason program during the contract dispute and has yet to sign his franchise tender of $12.823 million, making threats about sitting out games.
After July 15, Bryant has to play the season on the tender and then the two sides couldn’t begin negotiations again until after the season.
Bryant showed up for a handful of workouts and an organized team activity. He attended the final day of the Cowboys’ mandatory minicamp June 18 but did not practice.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has called the bluff of Bryant.
“I have no doubt that when we play, if we’re still in a franchise situation, I have no doubt that he’ll be leading the way against the Giants,” Jones said last week. “We just know how competitive Dez is and how much he wants to beat the Giants (in the season opener on Sept. 13) and how much he wants to support his teammates.”
Last season, Bryant had 88 receptions for 1,320 yards and a career-best 16 touchdowns. In five years with the Cowboys, he has 381 catches for 5,424 yards and 56 touchdowns.
