IRVING, Texas – Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones remains optimistic the team will eventually sign Dez Bryant to a long-term contract, but acknowledges that it’s a difficult process bridging the gap between the NFL’s highest-paid receiver contracts – Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald each make about $16 million per year – and the rest of the league.
The Denver Broncos, in particular, are in the exact situation as the Cowboys: like Bryant, fellow All-Pro Demaryius Thomas has yet to sign his franchise tag tender and is skipping voluntary offseason workouts with no signed contract at the moment.