Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant was not exactly enamoured with the team’s addition of quarterback Andy Dalton on Saturday, taking up the cause for current Cowboys QB Dak Prescott.
Bryant, who last played for the Cowboys in 2017, called out his former team on social media for adding Dalton as Prescott attempts to negotiate a long-term contract to remain in Dallas.
“Nothing against Andy dalton because I think he’s a great player..but the cowboys are extremely out of line... Pay Dak...,” Bryant posted to Twitter on Saturday, shortly after the arrival of Dalton was reported. “I watched the cowboys pay Tony (Romo) Twice once without a winning rec... I guess the cowboys viewing the QB position a plug in piece because of the dominant offense”
Bryant is far from the only one making the observation, with many NFL pundits acknowledging Dalton’s signing as possible contract leverage. Also noted is that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was able to quickly secure a $3mn deal with Dalton, a Texas native, that reportedly could be worth up to $7mn in incentives.
Negotiations with Prescott have not been as efficient, although he can make $31mn in 2020 after the Cowboys handed him the franchise tag.
Romo secured a six-year, $108mn contract with the Cowboys after the team went 8-8 in 2012. Dallas also went 8-8 with Prescott last season but have made the playoffs twice (2016, 2018) with the Mississippi State product at quarterback.
In 64 games over four seasons, all as a starter, Prescott, 26, has thrown for 15,778 yards, 97 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. In 133 games over nine seasons, all as a starter, Dalton, 32, has thrown for 31,594 yards, 204 touchdowns and 118 interceptions.


Options limited 
for Dalton
Former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton said the delayed timing of his release did him no favours in his bid to join another team.
“This year there were a good amount of quarterbacks that were available,” Dalton told the Bengals’ official website in a story published Friday night. “I think it would have worked out differently if I had been a free agent when the new league year started. I was still under contract and that hurt me.”
Dalton, who reportedly agreed to join the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday night, was due to earn $17.7 million in 2020, the final season of a six-year contract extension he signed in August 2014.
He was released on Thursday after nine seasons in Cincinnati. The move was expected following a 2-14 finish in 2019 that brought the Bengals the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Cincinnati drafted Dalton’s replacement, Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow out of LSU, with the No. 1 pick in April.
His longtime coach in Cincinnati, Marvin Lewis, had only praise for Dalton in an interview Friday with Pro Football Talk.
“Wherever he ends up,” Lewis said of Dalton, “he’ll be an asset.”
Lewis continued: “He’s extremely smart, prepared, ready to go.”
The New York Jets might have had interested in kicking the tires on Dalton as a backup for starter Sam Darnold, ESPN reported prior to reports of Dalton’s deal in Dallas. Darnold, who turns 23 next month, threw for 3,024 yards with 19 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 13 games last season.