Cowboys place franchise tag on receiver Dez Bryant
The Dallas Cowboys officially used the franchise tag for the fifth time in team history Monday afternoon when they placed it on receiver Dez Bryant.
The long-expected move means that Bryant will be guaranteed $12.8 million next season once he signs the deal.
By applying the non-exclusive tag, the Cowboys have until July 15 to sign Bryant to a long-term deal. If no agreement is reached, he would be forced to play the 2015 season with the tag.
The tag came as no surprise because Bryant and the Cowboys have made little to no progress on a long-term extension.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones recently said Bryant would be on the 2015 team “one way or another,” as they were not going to let him hit the free-agent market.
The non-exclusive franchise tag ensures that the Cowboys remain in control of the situation. If Bryant does get an offer from another team, the Cowboys can match the deal or get two first-round picks as compensation.
Vice-president Stephen Jones said the team will continue to work with Bryant and his representatives, led by Tom Condon, on a long-term contract extension.
Bryant has expressed disappointment in the past over the prospect of being franchised. The question now is how will he respond and whether he boycotts the off-season program, minicamp and possibly training camp.
Condon discussed the Bryant situation on Sirius NFL Radio on Monday and said the franchise tag was not a bad thing.
“Dez understands this business and so do the Cowboys,” Condon said. “We will continue to work with Stephen and Jerry on this.”
Keeping Bryant has been the team’s No. 1 priority since the start of the off-season. Bryant, 26, proved again in 2014 that he is one of the league’s best receivers with an NFL-leading 16 touchdowns on 88 catches for 1,320 yards.
He was named first-team All-Pro and was selected to the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive season.
Bryant leads the NFL with 56 touchdown receptions since 2010 when the Cowboys selected him in the first round out of Oklahoma State.
No player in franchise history has more touchdowns, receptions (381) and yards (5,424) in the first five years of his career.
What’s also important to the Cowboys is the growth and maturity Bryant has shown on and off the field over the past five years.
He is considered a team leader, and Jerry Jones recently compared his combustible emotion in a positive way to that of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali.
The Cowboys previously used the tag on offensive tackle Flozell Adams in 2002, safety Ken Hamlin in 2008 and twice on defensive end Anthony Spencer in 2012 and 2013.
Hamlin is the only one who didn’t play under the tag as he signed a long-term contract extension before the season started.
Tag, you’re it
A look at the Cowboys’ history with the franchise tag:
WR Dez Bryant, 2015: The Cowboys have until July 15 to sign him to a long-term deal.
DE/LB Anthony Spencer, 2013: Missed training camp and preseason with knee injury. Played in one regular-season game.
Spencer, 2012: Earned first Pro Bowl after leading team with 106 tackles and a career-best 11 sacks.
S Ken Hamlin, 2008: Eventually didn’t play under the tag after signing a six-year contract on July 15. Fourth on team with 92 tackles.
OT Flozell Adams, 2002: Started and finished every game, then signed a five-year deal beginning in 2003.
This story was originally published March 2, 2015 at 2:31 PM with the headline "Cowboys place franchise tag on receiver Dez Bryant."