The Dallas Cowboys are still working on a contract for Dez Bryant and after the wide receiver made an appearance at minicamp, the two sides could start hammering things out before training camp and this comes as the team may work to cut the salary of Brandon Carr to get a deal done, while Shonn Greene is a potential free agent target.
The Cowboys used the franchise tag on Bryant this offseason and that means the two sides have until the middle of July to agree on a long term deal. The two sides have been talking this offseason, but so far they have not come close to a contract. Last week there were reports that Bryant could threaten to hold out for the first game of the season, but there is still all summer before getting to that point. According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Jerry Jones said there is "no doubt" that Bryant will play in Week 1 of the season.
Jones and the Cowboys have been confident all offseason that bryant will be signed and it may take up until the deadline to get a deal done. NFL.com reported that the Bryant holdout threat is "legit," but the Cowboys feel that they will get a contract done with Bryant. The team let DeMarco Murray leave in free agency knowing they would have to sign Bryant and according to the Dallas Morning News, executive VP Stephen Jones said that the team will "make a push" to sign Bryant ahead of training camp.
The Cowboys expect to get a deal done and the contract for Bryant could be holding up other players like Demaryius Thomas and Julio Jones, as they are seeking new deals. Thomas is also on the franchise tag and that means Bryant has until July 15 to reach a long term contract with the Cowboys. Bryant has been as good as any wide receiver in the league over the past three seasons, putting up at least 87 catches, 1200 yards and 12 touchdowns each year over that span. Last season Bryant had 88 catches for 1320 yards and 16 touchdowns and he has not missed a game over the last three seasons.
There were reports this offseason that the team could look at cutting Brandon Carr to help free up cap space to sign Bryant to a long term deal, as he is set to count for over $12 million on the cap. According to Charean Williams of the Star-Telegram, Jerry Jones said that the team is not planning to cut Carr this offseason, but that the team wants to bring his cap hit down. The two sides may talk about a restructured deal, as Carr has previously said that he is not looking to take a pay cut.
Carr comes in with Orlando Scandrick and Morris Claiborne, while the team also brought in Byron Jones in the first round of the NFL draft. Jones could push to start with Claiborne and Carr struggling last year and that should be a battle to watch in camp. The team is also reportedly interested in adding another running back for training camp and Pro Football Talk reports that the Cowboys could look at Shonn Greene. Greene was released by the Titans and he could be a fit behind Darren McFadden and Joseph Randle for camp with McFadden dealing with a sore hamstring.