The Dallas Cowboys want Dez Bryant back with the team for at least another season and is expected to use the “franchise tag” on the star wide receiver before the deadline set for Monday, according to a new report. The Cowboys’ top brass admitted that they are still in negotiations with Bryant of a possible multi-year deal ahead of the deadline.

"I still think that it's probably, you know, would be a stretch to think that we would have something done by Monday and beat the franchise-tag deadline. Looks like we're eyeing a franchise tag on Dez, but certainly won't stop us from working hard to get a long-term deal.” Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said to Fox Sports on Saturday, "We just don't want to lose his rights. We think Dez is a you know, unique player and certainly a big part of what we do in terms of what we've done, our success, and certainly going forward."

Jones, who is the son of Jerry Jones the owner of the Cowboys, also said that he and his father already had a productive discussion with Bryant’s agent, Tom Condon last week. The younger Jones said that Condon “had a good long visit” with the Cowboys front office. In the National Football League, or NFL, the franchise tag designation means that a player set to hit unrestricted free agency that will be tagged as one will be retained by the squad assuming some specific conditions are met.

Dallas will have to notify the NFL about the franchise tag by 4 p.m. of March 2 and if they do execute the move it means that Bryant will be scheduled to earn around $13 million fro the 2015 NFL Season. If the Cowboys will not use the franchise tag on Bryant, a team acquiring him will give up two first-round picks if Dallas chooses to match the same offer sheet offered by the other team.

Bryant is considered one of the best wide receivers in the league. He was the 24th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft and has played the past five seasons with the Cowboys. Last season, he had 1,320 receiving yards on 138 catches with 16 touchdowns for Dallas, which finished the regular season at 12-4 winning the NFC East and qualifying for the postseason.

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