The Cowboys have yet to make a decision on whether veteran wideout Dez Bryant will be with the club in 2018, according to Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star Telegram.
“I don’t have a time frame just yet,” said Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones. “Obviously, it’s going to happen sooner than later. … We have to continue to work on our end and see where we are gonna end up on it.”
Bryant is due a $12.5MM base salary in 2018, and will count for $16.5MM on Dallas’ salary cap. If he’s released, the Cowboys would save $8.5MM but still be on the hook for $8MM in dead money. Dallas could designate the 29-year-old Bryant as a post-June 1 release and in turn save $12.5MM in 2018 space, but that extra room wouldn’t be available until June. As such, it wouldn’t help the Cowboys sign free agents in March.
Bryant has managed to get into the end zone 14 times over the past two seasons, but he hasn’t topped 1,000 yards since the 2014 season. 2017 also marked the first year that Bryant was able to stay healthy for all 16 games since that 2014 season. Bryant only posted 69 receptions and 838 yards, however, which isn’t in line with a salary that makes him the NFL’s eighth-highest-paid wideout.
Speaking at the scouting combine today, Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett also sidestepped the issue of Bryant’s roster status. “We have a tremendous amount of love for Dez Bryant,” said Garrett, who indicated Dallas has yet to discuss personnel decisions (Twitter link via Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News). “He’s been a great player for us for a long time.”
Sounds like a post-June 1 release is what they’re gonna do. It may not help Dallas out in free agency, but they can use the space to sign other players to extensions.
I think your right.
I think both of you are right.
At the end of the day I think he’ll give in and take pay cut. Nobody wants to say they will but it eventually happen to most player
If he’s smart he will. I think his ego is getting in the way of admitting to himself that this is probably the best solution. he’s no longer an ‘alpha dog’ – he needs to realize this.
Ravens??!?!?
Never going to happen, the little cap space they have to begin with. They are hunting for low risk high return investments.
He’s gonna wait for cowboys to cut him then go sign a cheap deal with pats and Brady will make him look great.
Wonder if he’d be open to a 1 year deal like Revis signed. Do the Patriot way thing for a year and a shot at a ring, then bounce for the money a year later