lotta money being throwing around...
Cowboys signed WR Dez Bryant to a five-year, $70 million contract, including $45 million guaranteed.
As they say, deadlines spur action. There had been so much back-and-forth between the two sides through the media. And being that it happened during late June and early July -- the NFL's deadest period -- things were very much blown out of proportion.
In the end, Bryant gets his money and long-term security, while the Cowboys lock up arguably the league's best receiver entering his prime at $14 million annually, making Dez the second-highest paid player at his position behind Calvin Johnson. It's a blueprint for Demaryius Thomas, Julio Jones, and A.J. Green as they look for their second NFL contracts.
Bryant will be on the field Week 1 against the Giants.
Broncos signed WR Demaryius Thomas to a five-year, $70 million contract, including $43.5 million guaranteed.
Oh, what deadlines will do for negotiations. Dez Bryant signed a five-year, $70 million pact with the Cowboys roughly 15 minutes before Thomas inked his with the Broncos.
Both were said to be seeking upwards of $16 million per year, but ultimately settled on $14 million annually. Bryant edges Thomas in guaranteed money $45 million to $43.5 million, but both players have to be happy to have this mess behind them, allowing them to focus on football and not potential holdouts. At the end of the day, three unsigned franchise players -- Dez, Demaryius, and Justin Houston -- got long-term deals.
Patriots signed K Stephen Gostkowski to a four-year, $17.2 million contract.
New England slapped the franchise tag on Gostkowski earlier this offseason, and he immediately signed his $4.59 million tender. The two sides had until 4 PM ET Wednesday to agree to a long-term deal.
Arguably the best kicker in the league, 31-year-old Gostkowski is now the league's richest player at his position.