Dez Bryant believes he should be among NFL's highest-paid wide receivers

Dez Bryant finished the 2013 season with a flourish, catching a touchdown in each of the Cowboys' final five games. (Tim Sharp/AP) Dallas Cowboys wide receiver

Dez Bryant finished the 2013 season with a flourish, catching a touchdown in each of the Cowboys' final five games. (Tim Sharp/AP)

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant is one of the most talented pass-catchers in the NFL, and he is hoping that he will soon get paid like one.

Bryant has said that his agent, Eugene Parker, and the Cowboys have had preliminary discussions about a potential contract extension. If Bryant gets his wish, he would likely stand among the highest-paid wide receivers in the league, an honor he believes he has earned the right to receive.

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"Yeah, I deserve (a long-term extension)," Bryant said, via ESPNDallas.com. "I deserve it. I feel like I do. I put the work in, but I let that kind of stuff take care of itself. It is what it is. I let my agent talk about it and give me some feedback."

Bryant enters the 2014 season in the final year of his rookie deal, from which he is set to earn $1.78 million. His targets, receptions and touchdowns have increased in each of his first four seasons as a pro, and his 1,233 receiving yards in 2013 ranked 13th in the league.

"I'm loyal to the squad," Bryant said. "I've always been. Me and my agent are going to talk about [a hometown discount]. We'll talk about it. You know, this is big. This is life changing. Like I said, I've done everything asked of me, and we'll see what happens."

There is no doubt that Bryant is vastly underpaid within his current deal and deserves a new contract, so his camp and the Cowboys could soon begin ramping up negotiations before the start of the regular season.

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