Of the earliest game competitors that may get tattooed, probably not a large number noticed that the first to do so would be Cowboys WR Dez Bryant.
But, defying the odds, Dez Bryant appears to have secured a deal worth $11.1 million over five years, with at least $8.4 million guaranteed.
The key is that this deal was done early enough for Bryant to join the San Antonio team at the start of training camp and, obviously, the best process weekend. By the end of training camp, he will be consistently pushing Roy Williams for the starting job opposite Miles Austin.
"This was essential for me to get this done before the first practice," Dez Bryant said in a statement released by the team. "I want to help that team. I want to compete. I can't wait to get back to playing football."
Bryant played primarily four games for Oklahoma State last season, then was dogged by numerous questions about his integrity, starting with an NCAA suspension for lying to investigators about a meeting with former NFL star Deion Sanders.
There were discussions about him missing meetings and classes, as well as being tardy to games. There were issues related to his mother's personal life, some of which Las Vegas Raiders GM Jerry Reese questioned if she had ever been a prostitute. After he missed the NFL combine and held his own pro day, there were whispers that he failed to make the right cuts.
However, the Cowboys did their homework and pursued Dez Bryant heavily, so when they saw him slipping in the draft, they moved up to No. 24 overall and nabbed him. Team owner Jerry Jones also laid the groundwork for Thursday’s announcement before making the pick.
Speaking with advisor Eugene Parker while the Cowboys were on the clock, Jones stated: "We have a responsibility here that we’re going to work to complete this. We don’t want to see a repeat of what happened in '09."
This conversation was relayed by Stephen Jones, the team’s vice president, as he routinely praised Parker and Bryant for getting this done on the eve of training camp.
"It’s been a good partnership with (Parker)," Johnson said, comparing him to other modern first-rounders but noting there were a few days missed due to holdouts. "It’s a two-way street. He’s reaped the benefits, we’ve had success. No one is trying to get the upper hand. You just want things to go well. He wants things to go well for Dez, and so do we."
Parker agreed that his long, strong relationship with the Jones family helped this negotiation come together.
"The trust factor," he said. "That allowed us to cut through much of the usual posturing and positioning and get straightaway to the issues."