"Throw Up The Checks": The Twitterverse Reacts To The Dez Bryant Contract Signing

Many of us spent our Wednesday on Twitter, waiting breathlessly for news on Dez Bryant. In the late afternoon, finally, news broke that the two parties were indeed close to a deal:

Source: Cowboys closing in on a deal before this afternoon's deadline but it's not yet finalized. Size & structure of guarantee the issue.

— David Moore (@DavidMooreDMN) July 15, 2015

Cowboys and Dez Bryant still have some minor points to work out. But if it's down to that, how does this not get done? Sense is it will.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 15, 2015

The #Cowboys are making real progress toward a long-term deal with Dez Bryant. Everyone, it appears, it optimistic now.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 15, 2015

#cowboys & @DezBryant inching closer. Clock ticking. As reported this am on @1053thefan the 'how-to' of guarantees a MAJOR issue

— mike fisher (@fishsports) July 15, 2015

Rumor: -via text Dez deal "getting close" Guess we'll see #Cowboys

— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) July 15, 2015

Getting closer! Do your thing, Jerry! https://t.co/cf9l6ou8tE

— Jordan Ross (@TheJordanRoss) July 15, 2015

The Twitterverse got really heated once news broke that Bryant was on his way to Valley Ranch, which could only mean that a deal was imminent:

Dez Bryant now on his way to Cowboys' facility -- assuming the two sides can put finishing touches on deal.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 15, 2015

Source: Cowboys and Dez Bryant are close enough to deal that the WR is on his way to Valley Ranch to sign. Major hurdles cleared.

— David Moore (@DavidMooreDMN) July 15, 2015

Of course, this prompted the wags to come out and play:

God, If you can make sure there's no traffic on the way to VR/the fax machines work/there's ink in the pen, that'd be great! #ClocksTicking

— Jordan Ross (@TheJordanRoss) July 15, 2015

Here's to no traffic on I-35 so he can sign it in time https://t.co/PKlhfndvWH

— Zack Spears (@Zacklopedia) July 15, 2015

Jerry to Condon, Stephen, etc. if Dez gets caught up in traffic... pic.twitter.com/CWjNKkD1JA

— Joey Ickes (@JoeyIckes) July 15, 2015

@sportssturm "Get outta the street, Spalding!"

— John Daigle (@notJDaigle) July 15, 2015

Eagle fans after hearing @DezBryant is heading to Valley Ranch. #CowboysNation pic.twitter.com/BJ1kAwgWdf

— Stephen McKinley (@Stephen_Mac03) July 15, 2015

Nonetheless, everyone felt very confident at this point:

Source: The #Cowboys and Dez Bryant are finalizing a long-term contract extension. It’s happening.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 15, 2015

Would take something beyond bizarre to keep Dez Bryant extension from not getting completed by 4pm deadline. Bird in hand can be powerful...

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) July 15, 2015

So confident that we began to consider important ramifications:

Deal getting done in the next hour and a half means plenty of this in Oxnard pic.twitter.com/Bk6cpcRpdL

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 15, 2015

Now that all that is outta way, I can't wait to see Byron Jones go up against Dez in training camp. Gonna be great work for the rookie.

— Jordan Ross (@TheJordanRoss) July 15, 2015

The first news to break about the contract concerned length:

If the Dez Bryant deal happens, it will be for five years.

— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) July 15, 2015

Dez Bryant and the #Cowboys will be signing a 5-year deal, I’m told. They are putting the finishing touches on it

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 15, 2015

He'll be 31 when his contract expires, which is still young enough for another big pay day. https://t.co/xjjrdgGUIs

— Jordan Ross (@TheJordanRoss) July 15, 2015

5 years, and north of $32 mil guaranteed for Dez

— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) July 15, 2015

Then, finally, the real details emerged:

Our man @JarrettBell reporting Dez deal likely to come in around $70M for 5 years. Tune in to NFL Insiders on ESPN right now for more.

— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) July 15, 2015

The #Cowboys and Dez Bryant have an agreement in principle on a 5-year, $70M deal, per sources.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 15, 2015

According to source, Dez Bryant's signing bonus is $20m

— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) July 15, 2015

Source: Dez Bryant guarantee of $45 mlllion is a virtual guarantee, not a full guarantee. Signing bonus is $20 million. 5 for $70 million.

— David Moore (@DavidMooreDMN) July 15, 2015

Big question on Dez's 5-year, $70M deal is how the $45M guar breaks down.

— Jason Cole (@JasonColeBR) July 15, 2015

What did it all mean in the great scheme of things?

Highest avg annual cash value-WR in 2015 C.Johnson, $16.2M D.Bryant, $14.0M D.Thomas, $12.8M* M.Wallace, $12M *If signs franchise tag

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 15, 2015

Dez Bryant Deal: $70M: 27th in the NFL, 2nd among WR $14M per year, 28th in the NFL, 2nd among WR $45M g’teed: 13th in the NFL, 2nd among WR

— Spotrac (@spotrac) July 15, 2015

@rabblerousr @TomRyleBTB Dez gets a great payday in bonus and guarantees. 14 mil a good number. Cap space now/cheap in future

— Birddog26 (@Birddog26) July 15, 2015

Dez Bryant wins. The Cowboys win

— Clarence Hill (@clarencehilljr) July 15, 2015

Good for Cowboys, Dez, and his beautiful babies. Bad for Giants & Eagles. https://t.co/QWfVtCJ3yE

— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) July 15, 2015

This prompted reactions from other teams with elite WRs...

If the Falcons can sign Julio to that same deal that Dez just got tomorrow, they should do it.

— Scott Carasik (@ScottCarasik) July 15, 2015

Denver and Demaryius Thomas reach agreement on matching 5-year, $70 million deal that includes $43.5M GTD, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 15, 2015

And then, Dez arrived at Valley Ranch to sign his new deal:

Dez Bryant arrives at Valley Ranch, with under 40 minutes to go until the deadline. #Cowboys #NFL pic.twitter.com/Ug9B1qmTcJ

— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) July 15, 2015

Fitting that Dez’s son w/ him to sign. Contracts like this can create generational wealth. Big day for his family. https://t.co/OXHLcYRdLd

— Derek Eagleton (@derekeagleton) July 15, 2015

And now Number 88 is a Cowboy until 2020...

I just want to congratulate @DezBryant on his new deal. He was patient and got the deal he wanted. He will be a Cowboy for life.

— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) July 15, 2015

Think everyone can agree on this today: Dez caught it.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 15, 2015

@rabblerousr @BloggingTheBoys