Star wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys, Dez Bryant, had his contract end after last season. His agent and the team could not come to terms on a new contract, so Bryant was given the franchise tag designation. Once he signs his offer Dez will make $12.823 million next season. That's not a shabby salary to go out and catch footballs for four months. However, like most players given the franchise tag, Bryant is refusing to sign it to place pressure on Jerry and Stephen Jones to give him a long term contract.
I have no problem, nor should anyone else, with Bryant doing this. Football players have notoriously short careers and need to maximize their earnings. What I have a problem with is that Dez has recently said that he's considering not signing his franchise offer and possibly sitting out some regular season games. Everyone wants job security, especially at a place they truly enjoy being, but this is not the way to get what you want. There is nothing professional about refusing your services because you don't get what you want. And if he doesn't get it from Dallas, almost every other team in the league will be willing to give it to him.
Of course if he doesn't get that long term deal from Dallas it's very likely that he'll be given the franchise tag again next year. That would mean a one-year contract worth 125% of the one he received this year. To clarify, if Dez does not get a long term deal, he'll make approximately $27 million over two years - fully guaranteed! As it is very unlikely Dallas would use the franchise tag a third time, Bryant would be set to hit the free agent market at 28 - still very much in his prime - and set to receive one of largest, if not the largest, contracts ever given to a wide receiver.
I'm not complaining about the money given to people to play a game - that's a subject for another time. What I will complain about is Bryant continuing to talk about his contract in a very public way. All this will do will make fans, maybe even a few Cowboys fans, resent him - especially if he starts trash talking the team or management. So Dez, it's your turn to listen. Stop complaining. Stop whining. Do what a lot of other players who have been given the franchise tag have done. Keep that franchise offer in a safe place and sign it once you're ready to report to training camp. Make sure you get in enough practice time to be ready for preseason action. Let your agents continue to negotiate and see what happens. No one feels sorry for you, so just shut up and play.
