The Facts: Stephen Jones had no interest in clarifying or walking back comments he made on a team podcast about wide receiver Dez Bryant being a distraction earlier in the week. The Cowboys executive vice president reiterated his criticism of Bryant, who has been known for his animated outbursts on the sidelines. "Well, Dez is an emotional guy. He plays with emotion. That's part of his game," Jones said. "I think he needs to understand that it's not something that's just affecting him. It does affect his teammates."
Diehards Line:
HC Jason Garrett and the Cowboys have defended Bryant over the years for playing with passion. They don’t want Bryant to do anything that might take away from what has made him one of the top receivers in the game. But this is a different time for Bryant and the Cowboys. The team faces a decision to make in terms of Bryant’s future with the team. As Star-Telegram staffer Drew Davison pointed out, Bryant hasn’t been productive in the first three seasons of a five-year, $70 million deal he signed before the 2015 season. He’s failed to reach the 1,000-yard mark each season, and is coming off a season in which he didn’t have a 100-yard game. Bryant’s $16.5 million cap hit next season is third in the NFL behind Antonio Brown and Larry Fitzgerald. That is a hefty price tag to pay a guy who hasn’t produced at a high level and that is why his future hangs in the balance. For now, Stephen Jones and Jerry Jones have said Bryant remains “under contract” for 2018 and there’s no reason to think Bryant wouldn’t be a part of the team. But Stephen Jones’ comments continue to raise the question of just how contentious this decision could become in the coming weeks. We'll be watching for more.