Cowboys inform Dez Bryant’s agent that receiver will receive franchise tag

By DAVID MOORE

Tribune News Service

Dez Bryant is hours away from receiving something he doesn’t want.

Stephen Jones, the Cowboys chief operating officer, said the club will place the franchise tag on Bryant Monday. Tom Condon, who now represents the Pro Bowl receiver in negotiations, was informed of the club’s intentions by Jones in a call Friday afternoon.

The tag prevents Bryant from hitting the free-agent market and guarantees him $12.8 million for the 2015 season.

“Well, I think Dez is a special player,” Jones said. “Obviously, he’s someone we don’t want to lose. We will pretty much cement that by using the franchise tag.

“Our goal is to, unlike what we’ve done in the past, is to hopefully keep working and get a contract done at some point. We want to continue to find a way to get there.

“So far, that hasn’t happened.”

The Cowboys felt there were close to a long-term deal with Bryant during the season, but it fell apart. Bryant has since changed agents. He’s now represented by Roc Nation. Condon will be the point person in these negotiations.

Owner Jerry Jones along with Stephen met with Condon on Tuesday.

“It was good,” Stephen Jones said. “It was a lengthy meeting. I don’t know that we got into a lot of numbers, but we were feeling each other out to see what each side’s goals were.”

There are no other meetings scheduled at this time. That’s why Jones and Condon spoke by phone Friday.

“It’s unrealistic to think it (contract) will happen now so we will use the tag,” Jones said.

Even though Bryant has said he would be “highly disappointed” if the team used the tag on him, it is more than he’s made in his first five seasons in the NFL. The receiver signed a five-year, $11.8 million contract coming out of college.

The two sides have until July 15 to work-out a long term contract. If no deal is reached by that stage the franchise tender sticks for the season.