The first day of OTA's kicked off at Valley Ranch on Tuesday with no sign of sixth-year receiver Dez Bryant. Former Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin says Bryant is taking care of business presently.
"Dez loves the game of football and everybody knows that," Irvin said Wednesday on 105.3 The Fan [KRLD-FM] in Dallas. "Sometimes the greatest asset in the world on Sundays, but in negotiation time, it sometimes becomes a great liability. Because they know there's no way you're going to go through the season without making love to your love."
Dallas tagged Bryant with a non-exclusive franchise tag on March 3. Though Bryant can technically negotiate with other clubs, the understanding and goal for both sides is for Bryant to be a Cowboy long-term, a goal that was postponed when Bryant switched agents in late October.
Irvin understands that Bryant is staying away from football at the moment to leverage himself in contract negotiations.
"Dez, you're going to come play football sooner or later," said Irvin, a three-time Super Bowl champion. "You love it too much. It's the essence of who you are. It's like with me. So, I understand he's trying to do business right now.
"But Dez will be ready. I'd much rather have Dez over at Valley Ranch doing all the things he needs to do. And he's not there now. I'm not happy about that, but Dez will be ready to play football."
Neither side truly wants the franchise tag: the front office because a $12.8 million price tag comes off the 2015 cap on July 15, and Bryant because it is a one-year deal that lacks security with the team.
