D-Day, the July 15 deadline for the Cowboys and Dez Bryant to work out a multiyear extension, is rapidly approaching. There are a few notes to pass along on those negotiations this morning, and we will update this post throughout the course of the day should there be any further developments.
- We learned yesterday that the Cowboys and Bryant have a good chance of finalizing a long-term agreement sometime this week, with Mike Fisher of 105.3 The Fan reporting that while the two sides agreed to break off contract talks over the holiday weekend, the announcement of a new deal could come as early as Monday. However, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter link) hears that owner Jerry Jones and son Stephen Jones will be out of the country until July 10 or 11, which could hold up the deal until next week.
- Fisher also wrote that Dallas has “maybe” offered a seven-year, $100MM deal, though he doesn’t specify what the guaranteed money in such a deal would be. As Cole tweets, that would be a pretty favorable structure for the Cowboys, given that Calvin Johnson landed a seven-year, $113MM contract from Detroit in 2012. Of course, Cole points out (via Twitter) that Johnson’s $48MM worth of guarantees is the watermark that Bryant’s camp may be more interested in.
- Demaryius Thomas is doubtlessly keeping a close eye on the Bryant negotiations, and Troy Renck of The Denver Post wonders (Twitter link) if Bryant can get $36-40MM in guaranteed money from the Cowboys. If so, Thomas will have a clear target in his own contract talks.