There’s been some chatter in recent weeks that the Dallas Cowboys might be thinking about cutting Dez Bryant, who is set to count for $16.5 million against the cap in 2018. Just don’t ask Michael Irvin to go along with that idea.
In an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show Monday, Irvin made it clear he thinks that would be an awful idea.
“You don’t find No. 1 receivers hanging off trees like leaves,” Irvin said (h/t Mike Florio of PFT). “So what you gonna do, let Dez go? Who they got to replace him? . . . You don’t find them this easily, and the Cowboys would be stupid — stupid — to let this boy go right now.”
Based on recent comments by owner Jerry Jones, it seems he agrees with that assessment.
Still, we can’t help but wonder if the Cowboys will at the least lay down an ultimatum — take a pay cut or be cut. Bryant isn’t the same player he used to be. He’s lost a lot of explosiveness off the line of scrimmage due to foot injuries, and he doesn’t seem to have the same chemistry with Dak Prescott that he had with Tony Romo.
If the Cowboys did decide to cut Bryant, they’d save $8.5 million against the cap, which would go a long way toward helping the team shore up other areas of weakness. It’s going to be interesting to see what goes down this spring when it’s time to make some tough choices.