Report: Cowboys expect to franchise Dez Bryant; Murray set to hit free agency
The Dallas Cowboys have told the agent of Dez Bryant that they will use the franchise tag on the Pro Bowl wide receiver by the deadline on Monday, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.
It has been an open secret that the Cowboys planned to lock up Bryant via the franchise tag for some time. Earlier Saturday, Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones told FOX Sports of the team's plans.
"I still think that it's probably, you know, would be a stretch to think that we would have something done by Monday and beat the franchise-tag deadline," Jones told Mark Lane of FOX Sports Southwest. "Looks like we're eyeing a franchise tag on Dez, but certainly won't stop us from working hard to get a long-term deal."
The two sides have been unable to agree on a contract and it appears a deal will not be done by the deadline.
The report indicates that the sides were close to a "Cowboy-for-Life" deal in October, but the deal fell through when Bryant changed agents. The sides recently picked up on discussion.
"Jerry Sr. and myself actually had a meeting with Tom Condon, his agent, Tuesday night." Jones told Lane. "Had a good long visit."
After the Cowboys franchise Bryant they can still negotiate a long term deal that would keep the Pro Bowl wideout in Dallas.
The news means that running back DeMarco Murray will now hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent on March 10.
"(Murray) is probably going to, you know, get some peace and see what's out in the market and then we'll talk and see." Jones told Mark Lane. "I do believe deep down he'd love to stay in Dallas."
The league's leading rusher will get a lot of looks on the open market but Jones and the Cowboys aren't worried, expressing confidence in their ability to re-sign the team's single season rushing leader.
"We've had some really good football players go into free agency: Jay Novacek and Darren Woodson and, you know, they still sign with the Cowboys. So, just because you're a free agent doesn't mean you're not necessarily going to end up back in Dallas."