Jerry Jones on Dez Bryant: 'I'm not that excited about the franchise tag'

The Dallas Cowboys haven't had much progress in their efforts toward a long-term contract extension with superstar wide receiver Dez Bryant, but as owner Jerry Jones explains, opting to use the franchise tag should remain a last resort.

"I can tell you I'm not that excited about the franchise tag with Dez simply because I'd like to have our agreement and our business in place for a long time to come with Dez," Jones said, according to ESPN's Todd Archer.

Jones indicated that while the two sides were close to reaching a deal during the regular season, negotiations headed in the wrong direction when Bryant hired new representation.

All indications continue to be that the 26-year-old wideout is also strongly against the idea of receiving the one-year designation, but as the deadline approaches, the organization may not have any other choice.

Though the franchise tag could conceivably create some tension between the two sides, the Cowboys just can't afford to let one of the NFL's most dominant wide receivers walk away in the middle of his prime.