Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant and Denver Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas are going through virtually identical situations with their respective teams, though one seems to be a little more quiet than the other. However, one of the things that could be having a major affect on both situations is a collusion investigation.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that the collusion probe began after Bryant spoke with Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones last week. It was during that phone call that Bryant reportedly informed Jones that he will not show up to work without a long-term contract in place, but something Jones said about the Broncos may have complicated things even further.
Bryant and Thomas are said to be seeking deals similar to the one Calvin Johnson signed back in 2012, which included $48 million guaranteed. According to Florio, Jones explained to Bryant that Johnson’s contract is irrelevant because it was “driven by the pre-rookie wage scale deal that Johnson signed when he was drafted by the Lions in 2007.” Jones also reportedly told Dez that he had spoken to Broncos general manager John Elway about the situation.
That would be a big no-no.
The collective bargaining agreement prohibits team officials from having discussions about player contracts with one another. Why? Because Bryant and Thomas are two of the best receivers in the game, and they are going to set the market. In theory, Jones and Elway could get together and agree to hold their ground until their two star players signed for a lesser amount of money.
Bryant confirmed in this tweet that he plans to hold out as long as he needs to, though the Cowboys seem to think he is bluffing. Thomas is likely to do the same.
