Dez Bryant on skipping season opener: 'This is no rumor, it's legit'

Dez Bryant confirms intentions of skipping season opener if he doesn’t receive a new deal

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant confirmed his plans of possibly skipping the team’s season opener if he does not receive a long-term contract extension.

ESPN.com first reported Bryan's desire to reach a deal with the Cowboys before the deadline for franchise players to sign extensions.

"This is no rumor; it's legit," Bryant said to NFL Network on Friday.

Dallas used the franchise tag on Bryant in March. This season, the franchise tag for wide receivers is worth $12.823 million. Bryant has yet to sign the franchise tag, and Dallas has until July 15 to sign him to a long-term deal.

The Cowboys open the season on Sept. 13 in a Sunday night game against the New York Giants.

2015 NFL off-season report cards

Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones has said he is not concerned about Bryant holding out for a new contract, while Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones says the team will make every effort to sign Bryant.

Bryant caught 88 passes for 1,320 yards and a league-leading 16 touchdowns last season, and was named AP first-team All-Pro and to his second Pro Bowl. 

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The Cowboys finished 12-4 last year, winning the NFC East for the first time since 2009. Dallas beat the Detroit Lions in the NFC wild card round before losing to Green Bay Packers 26-21 in the NFC divisional round.

- Scooby Axson