Dez Bryant, Cowboys Agree on New Contract: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction

The Dallas Cowboys have long maintained that using the franchise tag on Dez Bryant was a stopgap before a long-term contract.

The team made good on that notion Wednesday, with ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Albert Breer of NFL.com providing the details:

Several minutes later, DallasCowboys.com beat writer Nick Eatman tweeted a photo of Bryant signing the deal:

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pic.twitter.com/1OWPuDvlLD

— Nick Eatman (@nickeatman) July 15, 2015"

Bryant expressed his enthusiasm on Twitter after signing his new deal:

"I'm extremely excited," Bryant told Cowboys owner Jerry Jones via Snapchat after signing the agreement, via David Helman of DallasCowboys.com. "I think this year is the year."

Helman also reported Jones said the Cowboys and Bryant's representatives worked together last night as late as 3am, and that the Cowboys owner feels like the team signed the best an extension with the best wide receiver in the game today.

"I want to say how proud I am of Dez, how proud I am we selected him...we were criticized," Jones added, via Conor Orr of NFL.com.

As far as how Bryant's deal stacks up among his fellow wide receivers, Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac has the answers:

Eatman of DallasCowboys.com indicated Bryant mentioned the Super Bowl five times in a three-minute interview following the signing.

Bryant's agreement preceded Demaryius Thomas' new deal with the Denver Broncos, which was also for five years and $70 million, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Even though Bryant was unable to beat the standard set by Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson's seven-year deal with $60 million guaranteed and up to $132 million total, the 26-year-old has to be thrilled to get a huge deal.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Rand Getlin reported early Wednesday that the All-Pro receiver was "more optimistic than ever" about reaching a deal after the Cowboys' offer went past $13 million per season.

Schefter reported with less than two hours to go before the 4 p.m. ET deadline for franchise-tagged players to a sign a long-term deal that Bryant was en route to the Cowboys' facility with the assumption the two parties could hash out a deal.

Dallas quarterback Tony Romo tweeted his thoughts on the deal:

Dallas franchise-tagged Bryant on March 2 with the nonexclusive tag, meaning another franchise could have signed him and given the Cowboys two first-round picks (assuming they wouldn't have matched). No team stepped up, and the two sides spent much of the free-agency period trading numbers back and forth.

"I can tell you I'm not that excited about the franchise tag with Dez simply because I'd like to have our agreement and our business in place for a long time to come with Dez," Jones told reporters in February. "But the franchise is there for a reason and situations like this are what everyone had in mind."

As the July 15 deadline for franchised players to agree to new contracts approached, Bryant threatened to sit out into the regular season if an agreement couldn't be reached:

Following the signing, Jones said he didn't take this threat lightly, and said he and Bryant aren't careless with their words, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.

Bryant has spent his first five NFL seasons with the Cowboys. He has been a Pro Bowler each of the last two seasons and made his first All-Pro team in 2014. Leading the league in touchdown receptions with 16, Bryant also recorded his third straight season with at least 85 receptions and 1,200 yards. His 56 touchdown receptions since entering the NFL in 2010 are the most in football.

While his on-field performance makes the deal a no-brainer, off-field concerns at least played some part in delaying his deal. Reports dating back to last season said Cowboys brass were nervous about potentially giving Bryant long-term money because of his actions. In 2012, Bryant was arrested and charged with domestic violence on his mother.

As noted in a March column by Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman, there were also rumors about a potential video depicting an incident of abuse that never surfaced.

B/R's Jason Cole noted the Cowboys were seeking language in Bryant's contract that would allow them to void his contract if he had off-field problems. Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Jones sthe language in Bryant's contract contains no special stipulations that are different than other veterans the team has signed.

The Cowboys and Bryant committed themselves for better or for worse. There is little reason to believe Bryant's on-field excellence will cease anytime soon. He was fifth among receivers last season in Football Outsiders' DVOA metric and fourth in Pro Football Focus' overall grading system.

Bryant was also the league's best downfield threat and among the most sure-handed receivers, per PFF's metrics. 

Given the obvious chemistry between Bryant and Romo, this should be a marriage that keeps Dallas in the playoff hunt for 2015 and beyond.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.