Cowboys news: Dez meeting finally happening, but we don’t know what it will mean

Finally.

Source: Jerry Jones To Meet With Dez Bryant On Friday | Josh Clark, 105.3 The Fan
We finally may be getting a resolution to the Dez Bryant situation - and it may not be what many hope for.

According to a source close to the G-Bag Nation on 105.3 The Fan, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will meet with Dez Bryant on Friday to discuss the receiver's contract.

The timing couldn't be any more important as the team will hold their first official workout on Monday.

105.3 The Fan's Mike Fisher reported on Tuesday that the Cowboys could be prepared to say goodbye to Bryant in that meeting.

"The 'Dump Dez' concept was born about two months ago, when Cowboys COO Stephen Jones openly noted that Bryant's contract needed to "be addressed.'' Stephen at different times used the word "distraction'' in conjunction with the player. At the time, I assumed Stephen was attempting to negotiate Bryant's contract via the media, sure, but more, was attempting to "negotiate behavior," Fish said in his piece.

Dallas Cowboys: Jerry Jones, Dez Bryant meeting | Clarence Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The question on everyone's mind is what the upcoming sitdown with Jerry Jones means for Dez's future with the Cowboys. Hill has a pessimistic, but increasingly popular, take.

Anything is possible, but this meeting is seemingly shaping up more like a departure from passionate-but-combustible Bryant than an extension of what has been a roller-coaster ride since the Cowboys took him 24th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft.

The Cowboys would have already released Bryant, 29, if they would have been able to secure the services of receiver Sammy Watkins during the first week of free agency.

Dallas Cowboys: Dez Bryant's meeting with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones by Friday is one he can't afford to skip | David Moore, SportsDay
Moore cites the recent failure of Dez to show for a football camp hosted by teammate Tyrone Crawford as part what is seen by many as a somewhat cavalier attitude on Bryant's part. And that may be one part of what has gotten us to this sad point.

No one in the Cowboys organization is surprised when Bryant misses a teammate's camp or any other appearance. It falls into the category of Dez being Dez. It's not vindictive on his part, just irresponsible. There's a good chance teammates will actually give Crawford grief for counting on Bryant to show up in the first place.

Remember the offseason work Bryant is going to put in with an outside instructor to improve his route running? It hasn't started yet.

You can argue these two examples, in and of themselves, are no big deal. But when you have been with an organization for eight years, nothing stands alone. It's viewed through the lens of what you've done before.

Dez Bryant rumors: Jerry Jones will meet with Dez Bryant on Friday to discuss the future- Dave Halprin, Blogging The Boys
Our own Dave Halprin points out that no matter what the outcome of the meeting is, it will at least get this latest issue done with - hopefully.

It’s anybody’s guess what will happen, but it is about time the Cowboys reach a conclusion so they can move on with Dez or without him. One thing that is curious if this report turns out to be true - if the Cowboys are going to try and renegotiate his contract, it leaves precious little time before the offseason workouts begin. Maybe the Cowboys already have a decision made, or maybe they are willing to work in that gray area of trying to renegotiate while Dez is participating in the offseason program.

Dallas Cowboys: David Robinson gives insight on Dez Bryant | Clarence Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Dez hasn't yet met with wide receiver coach and trainer David Robinson, but he gave his analysis of the Cowboys WR in a radio interview with ESPN 103.3 on Tuesday. Here is an excerpt.

What Bryant needs to work on

Robinson said Bryant needs to improve the top end of his routes, getting his arm mechanics back on tap and getting out his breaks with more of a sense of urgency.

"Another area we can fix in his game is the first five or 10 yards bursting off the football against press coverage," Robinson said. "He has a tendency to release wide a little bit. We are going to add a lot more tricks and press release techniques he can use to create separation. We are going to get Dez playing a lot faster at the line of scrimmage instead of messing round releasing wide, helping the defensive backs out."

When Bryant releases wide it not only helps the defensive back out, but it reduces the window for the quarterback to throw to and makes every ball seem like a 50-50 ball or jump pass where he has to make a spectacular catch.

4 teams with cap space who would love a release of Cowboys’ Dez Bryant | K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire | Page 3
If the Cowboys do indeed cut Dez Bryant loose, there is no shortage of teams that have plenty of cap space and a possible place for him. K.D. lists four likely contributors - and this one would make most of us nauseous.

Washington has a brand-new quarterback and an obvious hole for an X receiver in their roster buildup. Alex Smith is in from Kansas City and the club acquired Paul Richardson to work with Jamison Crowder, but Josh Doctson has appeared to be a complete bust for the club.

Of course, signing with Washington would allow Bryant the ultimate opportunity for revenge, facing the Cowboys twice a year. The club has $17 million in cap space to be spent, so they’d have plenty of room to make the addition.

As much as Bryant bleeds Cowboys’ blue, it’s hard to imagine he’d feel the need to show the same loyalty DeMarcus Ware did after how the front office is currently treating him.

There are a few other current Cowboys in the news as well.

There Is Kind Of Awardception Happening With Jason Witten – R.J. Ochoa, OchoLive
Jason Witten is adding another award to his incredible resume, the Roger Staubach award.

Let’s be clear with what’s most important, Jason Witten is a great person and the work he does should absolutely be celebrated and crowned with as many awards as possible. That being said, the inception-ness of this all is starting to get a little wild.

Back in 2012 Jason Witten was awarded the NFL’s Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. This is the most prestigious award of this kind that an NFL player can receive, so much so that Roger Staubach himself won it in 1978 (Troy Aikman won it in 1997).

Think about this long and hard. Jason Witten just won the Roger Staubach Award, and both he and Roger Staubach have won the WPMOY Award. Witten has also won the Bart Starr Award (2013) and, on many occasions, the Bob Lilly Award! His awards are basically all Hall of Famers!

Jaylon Smith On 105.3 The Fan: Cowboys 'Greatness' Is The Goal | Mike Fisher, 105.3 The Fan
The evident interest the Cowboys are showing in linebackers in the draft have given rise to questions about just how much third year player Jaylon Smith can handle as he is still coming back from his devastating leg injury. But he is certainly ready to step up.

Last season, he played 55 percent of the team's defensive snaps and played in all 16 games. There has been conversation about his role changing, maybe to strongside, or maybe just to find ways to keep him on the field in more circumstances alongside Lee. The most important goal, of course, is for Smith to somehow return to his Notre Dame-level of excellence, when he was a consensus All-American and the Dick Butkus Award winner.

"Obviously I can do a lot,'' Smith said. "I’m going to do what the coaches tell me to do, and I’m going to achieve greatness."

Terrance Williams thanks Cowboys fans for tough love, makes vow - Partik Walker, 247 Sports
For some time, WR Terrance Williams has been quick to fire back at critics of his performance for the Cowboys. But he has suddenly changed his tune. Could it be a hint of shockwaves from the Bryant controversy?

Those days may now be at an end as the 28-year-old rehabilitates from a broken foot suffered during the offseason, making for an increased challenge due to the recent signing of both Deonte Thompson and (more notably) Allen Hurns. Having already taken a loyalty-driven discount on the four-year, $17 million contract extension signed only one year ago, Williams seems as all-in as ever in not only proving his worth the the Cowboys' front office, but to the fanbase as a whole.

This is the first time he's showed such unbridled vulnerability, which caught many off guard.

"Cowboys nation deserves more from me and I won't stop 'til we get it done," emoted Williams, via his latest Instagram post. "It's more than just fans! [We're] family and thank you for the TOUGH LOVE, and keep getting on my ass until I live up to Cowboys nation standards, which [are] very high!"

Oh, yeah, that NFL Draft thing is still coming - fast.

Cowboys should consider trading down in 2018 NFL Draft - Patrik Walker, 247 Sports
We mock and discuss what Dallas will take with pick 19. But this may be an excellent year to move back on day one of the draft.

The Cowboys have already shown interests in several positions that are deep enough allow them a move down without suffering the risk of losing out on an impact guy. One look at their detailed list of prospect meetings and/or workouts, including two-thirds of their coveted Official 30 visits, and you'll walk away with a strong indicator of what the precursors are for their Big Board. Trading back would still put them in play to land not only an impact player on later in Day One, but an additional one or two more on Day Two and/or Day Three on top of the 10 they already have coming their way.

Having that much draft capital would also allow them to move right back up for a shortened wait time without damaging the integrity of their haul.

Iowa OL James Daniels could be Cowboys’ premier first-round target | Joey Ickes, Cowboys Wire
A lot of people *cough* like me *cough* are mocking guards like Isaiah Wynn and Will Hernandez to the Cowboys in the first round, but another visitor to the Cowboys before the draft may actually be a better option. James Daniels has experience as both a guard and a center.

Daniels is the perfect fit for the Cowboys offense at left guard. He saw some action there as a freshman at Iowa and has every trait you’d look for in a guard in a zone running game like the Cowboys have majored in the last several years.

Selecting Daniels at 19 would add him to the Cowboys’ foursome of dominant offensive linemen and would create once again the best group in the league. This would immediately maximize the effectiveness of the running game, while giving Dak Prescott the best chance to succeed under center. Additionally, he provides some insurance against a Travis Frederick injury, to help improve the overall flexibility and depth of the offensive line as a whole.

The Cowboys are having these two safeties visit The Star. Let’s look at them! – Kevin Turner, The Athletic
Turner looks at safeties Tarvarius Moore and Kyzir White. Moore especially has been getting a lot of notice from places like Cowboys draft Twitter, and here is what Turner has to say about him.

I have a fourth-round grade on Tarvarius Moore. I do feel like he will get drafted before then, but I’m not sure that I trust Moore enough to be a premium round pick. It all depends on who is on the board, but I could see a scenario where Moore is in consideration for the Cowboys in the third round at pick #81.

His most easily-accessible game to most fans was against Florida State, and I can tell you unequivocally that it was his worst game of the five games that I saw.

It’s pretty clear that Moore is a work in progress, and I’ll be fascinated to see how early he’s selected in the draft. If the Cowboys are able to take him in the fourth round, I think we should all high-five and do the Zack Martin hip thrust dance.

Derwin James will have Cowboys eye heading into 2018 NFL Draft - Patrik Walker, 247 Sports
Based on visits and such, the Cowboys would appear to be thinking that safety Derwin James is out of the picture for them as a potential top-10 pick. But funny things happen in the draft, and if he is pushed down by other teams going after, say, quarterbacks, it could push him in range for them to go after. And that might be very, very tempting.

There can be no denying what James brings to the table, even after suffering a torn left lateral meniscus in 2016 that ended his season. Teams don't appear to be concerned in the least on that front following the NFL Combine and subsequent meetings/workouts, and it shouldn't be much of a concern anyway considering he returned in 2017 to deliver 84 total tackles, 11 pass deflections, two interceptions (returning one for a touchdown) and one sack en route to landing FWAA All-American honors last year.

That's provocative.