Dez Bryant is making sure everyone knows that he has no intentions of leaving the Dallas Cowboys. However, the wide receiver wants a pay raise, something the team might not be able to offer. The Cowboys are once again facing salary cap issues and while Bryant wants a new deal, that might not happen this offseason.
Bryant stressed that he is a Cowboy for life. The wide receiver told ESPNDallas.com, "I don't even think about leaving Dallas. I'm Dallas forever." However, that statement could start to be seriously tested if the Cowboys cannot offer a contract that works in his favor.
Bryant is preparing to enter the final year of his current contract and so far negotiations on an extension are nonexistent. Team vice president Stephen Jones notes that team is getting ready to work on all things free agency, but right now Bryant is not high on the priorities list for the team.
Bryant is fresh off a season where he recorded his second-straight year of over 90 catches and 1,200 receiving yards. He put up 1,233 yards and 13 touchdowns as the Cowboys barely missed out on this year's playoffs. Those numbers certainly open him up for a nice pay raise, but the Cowboys are not in a position to offer one.
Owner Jerry Jones says he certainly intends to keep Bryant around for the long-term, but several other players are on expiring contracts that take the focus of the offseason. Left tackle Tyron Smith is the first player up for a new deal. He is a player the team is desperate to hold on to.
If the Cowboys are unable to work out a contract extension this offseason for Bryant, he could fall victim to the franchise tag this time next season. The Cowboys will not let the wide receiver hit the open market considering the number of teams that would line up to sign him, but money is always an issue in Dallas and there simply might not be enough for him.
With new contracts come the release of several players. Both Miles Austin and DeMarcus Ware are expected to be cap casualties for the Cowboys. The wide receiver is an $8.2 million hit to the cap while Ware is set to be a $16.3 cap hit. If both players are released, Dallas could save plenty of money that could go towards draft picks. Ware and Austin are coming off of injury-plagued seasons that simply do not work in their favor with Jones.