Bryant’s future with Cowboys; details to come

Pro Bowl receiver Dez Bryant isn’t going away, Jerry Jones assured fans on his weekly KRLD-FM radio show on Tuesday.

Bryant, 26, is in the final year of his rookie contract and having the kind of season that should put him in line for a big payday, as he leads the NFL with 14 touchdown catches. He and the Cowboys have been discussing a long-term deal, but as yet nothing has been settled. Bryant also switched agents in the middle of the season.

Jones is confident, though, is because Bryant is under team control for two more years. The Cowboys can use the franchise tag on him in 2015 and 2016 if a deal is not reached, something Jones made clear.

“We have the franchise alternative, which I thought everybody was aware of,” Jones said. “Every team uses the franchise. The franchise is a vital part of putting a roster together today, either the leverage of the franchise position or the using of it. It’s just as valid as 10 percent of your cap money available to you.”

If Bryant is given the franchise tag, which is the average of the five highest-paid players at that position, he will make in the $12-13 million range next season. His base salary this season is $1.78 million.

Bryant has said he would be “highly disappointed” to be given the franchise tag, and that might be a concern for the Cowboys. If Bryant isn’t happy, would that affect his production?

That’s why the Cowboys and Bryant have both discussed a desire to reach a long-term deal that would make him a Cowboy for life.

Crawford’s future

The Cowboys opened the season hoping that free agent signee Henry Melton would be a difference-maker at the under tackle position in Rod Marinelli’s 4-3 defense.

Although Melton is tied for the team lead with five sacks, he has struggled with a knee injury for much of the season. He was benched in Week 3, has not had a sack in seven games, and only has four tackles during that span.

The Cowboys, however, may have found their future at the position in the fast-developing Tyrone Crawford.

“Tyrone Crawford gets better every single day,” coach Jason Garrett said. “I think he has a really, really bright future and his best football is ahead of him.”

Crawford, who missed last season with a torn Achilles, played defensive end in training camp. He was moved to tackle because of Melton’s struggles and has taken off since moving into the starting lineup. He has 32 tackles, three sacks, four tackles for l0 yards in losses, 28 quarterback pressures, a pass deflection and a forced fumble.

Crawford is the highest ranked Cowboys defender, per Pro Football Focus.

Super Bowl talk

Jones has stopped short of guaranteeing a Super Bowl appearance by the Cowboys. But he does like his team’s chances.

Jones, pointing out his team’s history with three Super Bowl titles in the 1990s, says he knows a little something about what a team that can compete for a Super Bowl looks like. He said on his radio show on Tuesday that the Cowboys have that look.

“I do feel like we’re going to be competitive [in the playoffs],” Jones said. “I feel like we’re healthy as we’ve been all year.”

This story was originally published December 23, 2014 at 9:05 PM with the headline "Bryant’s future with Cowboys; details to come."