The Dallas Cowboys' response to Dez Bryant's threat to sit out regular-season action in a contract dispute: a collective yawn.
"It doesn't concern me one bit," coach Jason Garrett said Tuesday, via The Dallas Morning News. "Dez loves football. He has a great passion for the game. He wants to be a great player. He wants our team to be great. He's been working every day to do that and we'll take care of the business as we go."
Asked about the possibility of Bryant missing games in September, executive Vice President Stephen Jones told SiriusXM NFL Radio, "I don't listen to any of that. Right now there's just too big of a divide."
Added Jones, "This is the tough side of our game. Our goal is to sign Dez Bryant long term and we know that's his goal as well."
Bryant's agent, Tom Condon, also appeared on SiriusXM NFL Radio, confirming his client has "indicated he's willing" to skip the season opener.
Acknowledging that there have been no negotiations of late, Condon expressed the belief that the Cowboys are content to take a "year-by-year" approach with a preference that Bryant simply play under the franchise tag in 2015.
Bryant has yet to sign his tender, which means he is not under contract and has no obligation to attend mandatory minicamp -- as is also the case with Jason Pierre-Paul of the Giants and Justin Houston of the Chiefs.
The Cowboys will be without their No. 1 wide receiver in this week's practices. If Bryant and Condon are entrenching, that won't change any time soon.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast discusses Dez Bryant's contract situation and ranks the best backfields for the 2015 season. Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.
