Cowboys WR threatens to skip season opener

WR Dez Bryant is threatening to miss the Dallas Cowboys’ regular-season opener unless he receives a long-term contract by July 15, according to an ESPN report on Friday.

If the Cowboys fail to sign Bryant to a contract before that date, he would have to play for a franchise tender offer of $12.823 million in 2015. That is the deadline for players with franchise tags to secure a new long-term deal.

According to ESPN, the Cowboys have not made an offer to Bryant since before the 2014 season when he switched agents from Eugene Parker to Tom Condon.

“I’m just not going to comment about that,” Condon said. “Our goal is still to get something done on a long-term basis by the deadline.”

After the ESPN report circulated, Michael Silver said Bryant told him, “This is no rumor. It’s legit.”

Bryant has not participated in the Cowboys’ OTA workouts but did show up at one OTA practice session and has been a part of individual drills. The five-year veteran does not have to show up next week for the team’s mandatory minicamp because he is not officially under contract.

Last season, Bryant had 88 receptions for 1,350 yards and a career-best 16 touchdowns. In five years with the Cowboys, he has 381 catches for 5,424 yards and 56 touchdowns.