Dez Bryant has some harsh words for his critics

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant recently appeared on the “Ben and Skin Show” on 105.3 The Fan and did not hesitate to let his feelings be heard.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant has never been one to shy away from emotion. From the way he plays on the field to his off field antics, he has always worn his heart on his sleeve. He held up to his reputation in his most recent radio interview where he did not hesitate to express how he feels about his current contract situation.

The 29-year old receiver phoned into 105.3 The Fan’s Ben and Skin Show on Friday for an in-depth interview. When asked about the possibility of him taking a pay cut next season due to his decline in production, Bryant thought the notion was crazy. He believes that everything his gotten so far, he deserves it. And that he’ll get into those details when he next talks with owner Jerry Jones and his son, executive vice president Stephen Jones.

Bryant’s work ethic and dedication have never been in question since he joined the Cowboys. But due to the criticism he has been receiving since the year ended, he felt this was another topic he needed to address.

"“I feel like I’m just going to work harder than I ever worked,” Bryant told 105.3 The Fan. “I don’t want to say too much about it, I don’t want to film it, I don’t want to show the world. I feel like I don’t have to do that. It ain’t for show. I just want to go to work. I don’t want to hear anything – of course, things are going to be said. But if I can just separate myself from all the noise, I just want to dig deep. That’s all I want to do. … If anybody ain’t with Dez Bryant, they can kiss my ass.”"

Bryant made it very clear that he wants to finish his career in Dallas and said it would not feel right playing for another franchise. While I think all Cowboys fans will appreciate the loyalty, there is another side to this equation and that is the business side of Bryant’s situation.

Bryant is due a base salary of $12.6 million in 2018 and Cowboys Executive VP Stephen Jones has made it clear that the club is not in a very comfortable at the current moment regarding Dez’s contract. The idea of approaching Bryant about a pay cut (which Bryant claims has not happened yet) is a very slippery slope given Dez’s previous comments this offseason regarding accepting a cut in pay saying, “Probably not. Hell no, man. I believe in me.”

The idea of a pay cut is not necessary and will only add fuel to the fire of what is already a delicate situation.

There are too many ways to move the numbers around to lower this year’s cap hit of $16.5 million; such as adding a voidable year to the contract and converting his salary into a restructure bonus which can be spread out over the remaining three years of the contract, including the voidable year in 2020.

This would do two things: it would lower the cap hit this year and potentially cut in half the dead money that would still be owed come 2020.

There is also the idea of restructuring this season’s salary into incentive based pay. The Cowboys can base those milestones however they see fit but if they are based on Bryant outperforming his numbers from last year, those incentives paid out would not count against the 2018 cap. Bryant would still receive his base salary and the Cowboys receive a little more cap space; both sides win. Call it another accounting trick to move numbers around.

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While I completely see the reasoning behind the criticism of Dez Bryant has been receiving due to a clear dip in production, I cannot get get on board with the idea of releasing him. It does not make sense when you look at the lack of money saved as well as lack of suitable replacements. Releasing Bryant does not make the Dallas Cowboys a better team in 2018.