Dez Bryant's agent says contact talks dormant

Dez Bryant's agent said that contract negotiations with the Dallas Cowboys are dormant on the same day that the star wide receiver missed the opener of the team's three-day minicamp.

Agent Tom Condon revealed in an interview Tuesday with Sirius XM Radio that the Cowboys have not increased their contract offer to Bryant, saying that his client is "resolute in his determination" to negotiate a new deal before the July 15 deadline for franchise players.

"There haven't been any conversations," Condon said. "The only offer that we ever received from the Cowboys was the same offer that they gave to Dez prior to the time that he played the last year of his rookie contract.

"Since then we've had conversations, but nothing with regards to any negotiations. ... His average per year in salary is probably 20 percent of what he would get on the open market. He understands the significance of this and what this means to the rest of his life. He's resolute in his determination."

Bryant's absence for the start of Dallas' minicamp Tuesday was not a surprise, as the two-time Pro Bowler has not signed his $12.823 million franchise-tag tender.

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said he is not concerned about the possibility Bryant might skip the regular-season opener, which ESPN Insider Chris Mortensen reported last week.

"That's being floated by other people," Garrett said. "We're not really focused on that. Dez is getting ready to come to work. He's going to work hard every day whether he's in the building or outside the building. The guys that are here every day are going to work hard.

"Dez loves football. He's got a great passion for the game. He's got a great passion for our team. He'll take care of his business. We'll take care of our business and hopefully all that stuff will be worked out sooner rather than later."

Bryant, however, acknowledged to the NFL Network that the possibility of missing regular-season games is "legit." Condon affirmed his client's stance in the radio interview Tuesday.

"In my conversations with him, he's indicated he's willing to do [miss regular-season games]," Condon said.

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said two weeks ago the Cowboys would attempt to push for a deal before the July 15 deadline.

While missing regular-season games may be legit, it would not help Bryant's bargaining position.

Bryant and the Cowboys have until July 15 to reach a long-term deal, or he has to play the season on the franchise tag. By missing a game, Bryant would cost himself roughly $754,000. The only possible benefit would be if the Cowboys would agree not to use the franchise or transition tag on him in 2016.

"I think from their perspective they're looking at this year at the franchise tag, which is a substantial number close to [$12 million] and change and then next year they can do it again, and their average over the two years is basically $14 million," Condon said. "And so they can go year by year if they would like.

"The problem, of course, is that you don't then have Dez at any time in the preseason, and from Dez's comments lately you may not have him for the regular season for some period of time ... some undetermined period of time."

Bryant has been one of the best receivers in the NFL over the past three seasons. He is the first Cowboys receiver with three straight 80-catch, 1,000-yard, 10-touchdown seasons and has been named to the Pro Bowl the past two years. He led the NFL in touchdown receptions last season with 16.

Bryant showed up on a handful of occasions to the offseason program for workouts and even took part in individual drills during one organized team activity. He is not required to be at the mandatory minicamp because he is not under contract.

With him skipping the camp, the next question becomes whether he'll be on the team's charter flight to Oxnard, California, for the start of training camp on July 28.

"Dez is getting himself ready," Garrett said. "He's in a situation where the business of the NFL is kind of taking precedence right now, but he's working hard on his own away from our building. It's not a unique situation when you're a franchise player for guys to do that. But Dez loves football. Dez wants to be great. He wants our team to be great."