Bryant, Cowboys have deal

Beat deadline with five-year, $70M contract

Dez Bryant and the Dallas Cowboys have the longterm contract both sides said they wanted during a long stalemate that came right up against the deadline to get a deal done.

The All-Pro receiver signed the five-year, $70 million deal Wednesday, less than an hour before he would have run out of time to play under anything other than a one-year agreement in 2015.

The deal includes $45 million in guaranteed money.

Bryant, 26, who led the NFL in touchdowns receiving with 16 last season, had threatened to skip training camp and regular-season games without a contract to replace the $12.8 million offer for one year he had under the franchise tag.

Owner Jerry Jones flew to New York to meet with agent Tom Condon and representatives of Jay Z’s Roc Nation talent agency. Jones said they were up until early Wednesday morning discussing terms, and the owner felt confident a deal was close to done when he went to bed.

“There was never a doubt in my mind that we wanted a long-term deal with Dez,” Jones said. “We just had to get the pot right.”

Before the long-term deal got done, Dallas couldn’t fine Bryant for missing offseason workouts and camp practices because he hadn’t signed the guaranteed $12.8 million tender.

Bryant didn’t practice all spring, but did show up from time to time. That included the final mandatory minicamp workout.

Now the Cowboys can focus on defending their NFC East title and trying to make a deeper playoff run.

“As well as we know him, you see the kind of commitment that we’ve made here,” Jones said. “That says everything about what feel about him on and off the field. He’s made tremendous strides since he came out of college.”

Chiefs

Kansas City signed Justin Houston to a sixyear, $101 million deal, the richest contract for a linebacker in NFL history. The deal includes $52.5 million guaranteed, with a signing bonus of $20.5 million. “He's one of the top players in the National Football League and a premier pass rusher. We are very happy that he will remain a member of the Chiefs,” general manager John Dorsey said.

Broncos

Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas signed a fiveyear, $70 million contract with Denver. It’s the richest contract in franchise history and includes $43.5 million in guaranteed money. “Thrilled to reach a long-term deal with Demaryius,” general manager John Elway tweeted after the deal was complete.

Giants

A source said defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul did not get a new long-term contract deal ahead of a deadline for players who have franchise tags. Pierre-Paul’s status has been uncertain since he was hurt in a fireworks accident July 4. If the Giants rescind the contract tender offer, he would become an unrestricted free agent.

Patriots

Kicker Stephen Gostkowski agreed to a fouryear deal worth $17.2 million with New England. Gostkowski signed a oneyear tender the same week the Patriots designated him a franchise player.