Would Dez Really Skip the Cowboys Opener?

Dez celebrates a touchdown vs. The New York Giants (Getty Images)

Many reports have stated that wide receiver Dez Bryant has threatened to skip the Cowboys’ season opener if he does not receive a new deal by July 15th. Dez has yet to sign his franchise tag, which would entitle him to $12.83 million dollars. He has been in attendance of multiple Cowboys OTA’s this month, which is a good sign for the Cowboys.

The Cowboys play the New York Giants week 1 this year, and they hope Dez is part of it. When asked if the rumors of him skipping week one are true, Dez told NFL Network:

“This is no rumor; it’s legit,”

The Cowboys selected Dez back in the 2010 NFL Draft, 24th overall. They signed him to a five year $11.8 Million dollar deal, with $8.5 Million guaranteed. Dez has just finished that deal, and the Cowboys have used the franchise tag on him. Dez made it very clear that he wasn’t happy with that decision, and felt they should offer him a long-term deal. Both sides of the contract negotiations seem to be far apart, as this deal has taken a very long time to come to an agreement.

Last season, Dez had an extraordinary season, putting up 1,320 receiving yards, and an NFL best, 16 touchdowns. He was the clear No. 1 receiver for the Dallas offense, and was the favorite target of quarterback Tony Romo.

The Cowboys need to be very careful in this situation, as they recently let a different All-Pro player walk away. DeMarco Murray, last seasons highest rushing player, and Offensive Player of the Year, left Dallas to join Chip Kelly and the Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys never agreed to an extension with Murray, and low-balled him when it came to negotiations. Murray rushed for an NFL best, 1,845 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. The Cowboys have arguably the best offensive line in the NFL, but losing Murray will be a tough obstacle for Dallas. They will have to learn from their mistakes, and not let Dez leave the Cowboys as well.

The Cowboys rely heavily on Bryant to manage the receiving game, and they certainly want him on the field. If he is serious about skipping their opener, they need to take care of this situation as soon as possible. Dez is a franchise player, and his contributions to the team are something that they don’t want to lose, even if it is just for one week.