The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dez is done in Dallas; Cowboys clear $8.5M
Dez Bryant never lived up to the big contract he signed with the Dallas Cowboys when he was among the best receivers in the NFL.
If the franchise leader in touchdown catches is going to find his 2014 All-Pro form again, it will be with another team.
The Cowboys released Bryant on Friday, deciding salary-cap relief and declining production from one of their biggest stars outweighed the risk of him proving them wrong by becoming a Pro Bowl player again somewhere else.
And Bryant used Twitter to make it clear that he will be trying.
“If I didn’t have my edge, I’ve got it now,” he wrote among a flurry of tweets over two days, starting the day before a meeting where owner and general manager Jerry Jones told him he was being released. “It’s very personal.”
The 29-year-old Bryant signed a $70 million, fiveyear deal after leading the NFL with 16 touchdowns in 2014. But he didn’t have a 1,000-yard season in three years under the big contract, and just played all 16 games without a 100-yard day for the first time in his eightyear career.
Bryant was owed $12.5 million on each of the last two years of his deal, with a $16.5 million salary cap hit both times. The release clears about $8.5 million in cap space.
“This was not an easy decision,” Jones said. “It was made based upon doing what we believe is in the best interest of the Dallas Cowboys. We arrived at this crossroad collectively with input from several voices within the organization.”
Bryant was a distraction throughout his career with sideline rants, even admitting late last season that he let frustrations affect him during perhaps his most difficult year in the league. He said some of the frustration was rooted in the offensive scheme.
With 73 touchdown catches, Bryant tops a Dallas list that includes Hall of Fame receivers Bob Hayes (71) and Michael Irvin (65). Tight end Jason Witten, who is getting ready for his 16th season, has 68 career TD catches.
The Cowboys left little doubt they were in the market for receivers in free agency, adding Allen Hurns after the four-year pro was released by Jacksonville. Sixyear journeyman Deonte Thompson was another addition.
Seahawks: Signed veteran kicker Sebastian Janikowski amid a number of moves. Seattle also signed quarterback Stephen Morris to have another arm on the roster behind Russell Wilson.
Running back J.D. McKissic and defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson signed their exclusive rights free agent contracts for the 2018 season.
Janikowski spent 17 seasons with the Oakland Raiders but missed the 2017 season due to a back injury. Janikowski, 40, has made 80.4 percent of his kicks during his career and holds the NFL record with 55 field goals of 50 yards or longer.
Saints: Federal lawmakers from Louisiana and Washington have submitted legislation to award former New Orleans and Washington State player Steve Gleason the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor awarded by Congress.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican and doctor who helped sponsor the legislation, seeks to honor Gleason for his work as an advocate for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
The 41-year-old Gleason, famous for blocking a punt in 2006 on the night the Superdome reopened for the first time since Hurricane Katrina, was diagnosed with ALS in 2011. He has spearheaded efforts through the Team Gleason foundation to develop and provide technology to help ALS patients live longer, more fulfilling lives. Philadelphia’s Sean Couturier dives for the puck during Friday night’s game in Pittsburgh. The Penguins went into the game with a 1-0 series lead.
Thursday’s Games
■ (At) Predators 5, Avalanche 2: Filip Forsberg passed the puck to himself through his own legs and rookie defenseman Samuel Girard’s legs on his way to his second goal of the third period to highlight Nashville’s win.
■ (At) Bruins 5, Maple Leafs 1: Brad Marchand, David Backes and David Krejci each scored a power-play goal, and Tuukka Rask stopped 26 shots for Boston.
■ Blue Jackets 4, (at) Capitals 3 (OT): Artemi Panarin scored 6:02 into overtime for Columbus.
■ (At) Lightning 5, Devils 2: Top-seeded Tampa Bay got goals from five players.
■ Sharks 3, (at) Ducks 0: Evander Kane scored two goals in his first career playoff game and Martin Jones made 25 saves for San Jose.