The Dallas Cowboys and Dez Bryant have been at odds over a new contract and rumors about an alleged video being released could be holding things up, as reports have Bryant seen in a "Ray Rice-like" video that could cause some issues as he tries to sign the first major free agent contract of his career and it could derail the contract talks between him and Jerry Jones.
Reports started leaking out last week when Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk said on the radio that "major insiders" have known about the video for some time. Adam Schefter of ESPN was asked about the video and he said that he had been working on the story since September and that it could be released soon. More reports have come out in recent days, with Florio saying he will be writing about the news on Wednesday, while The Big Lead reports that the video could be released this week.
The Sun-Times National writes that Bryant's former friends are the source of the video and that they are looking for a "pay day" and the deadline is coming up. Florio said the video may have a serious detriment on contract talks and said it could have a Ray Rice-type of an impact." The work "terrified" was used in describing how the Cowboys feel about the video and after everything that happened with Ray Rice last year, the team does not want to deal with a situation like that.
Bryant came out last week and posted a note on Twitter that vaguely responded to the rumors and he called things "BS" and added that he used to :let people take advantage" and that he is not allowing that to happen anymore. That is vague, but links up with the video being shopped around by people Bryant used to be close with. Bryant has had his off the field issues in the past and the Cowboys have been very strict with him over the past two seasons and now things could unravel.
All reports since the season ended had Bryant as the priority for the team over DeMarco Murray and reports have the team considering the franchise tag. Bryant said he would be dismayed if the team went that track, but it looks more and more likely they will tag him. Bryant's tag number would be around $13 million and after making 16 touchdowns catches last season, the Cowboys do not want to see him go. But the video adds a wrinkle to the whole thing and if it exists, it could be what has been holding things up between the two parties this offseason.
Stephen Jones has been asked about Bryant and he said that the two sides were working on a deal during the season and it did "not work out." Jones was asked about the video and said that off the field issues were not something they were concerned about in negotiations. Either way, if the video is released both the Cowboys and Bryant will have to deal with the fall out. Florio described it as an "incriminating video'' and on Twitter, @JaywanInc wrote that Bryant's "ex-friends" are shopping the video around and are looking for a pay day from a site like TMZ.
