Dez Bryant Confirms Intention to Hold Out Without New Cowboys Contract

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant is not messing around when it comes to his contract status. 

ESPN's Ed Werder reported Monday that the All-Pro wideout called Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones and said he planned to sit out training camp and "real games" until he gets a new deal. 

Bryant has since followed that up with a tweet of his own confirming his stance:

After Werder's initial report, he noted on Twitter that he received a text from Jones denying Bryant called him with a threat to sit out training camp and regular-season games. 

Regardless of whether he contacted Jones or not, the 26-year-old has now publicly made his feelings known. The Cowboys placed the franchise tag on Bryant in March, guaranteeing him $12.8 million for this season. 

However, with the July 15 deadline for teams to work out a long-term extension with franchise-tagged players looming, he has yet to sign the one-year tender. 

As the deadline approaches, Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report discussed Bryant's bargaining position:

In June, Bryant said he's played for five years without complaining about his contract and is now seeking long-term security. It would be hard to argue with his play on the field, highlighted by three consecutive seasons with at least 1,200 yards and 12 touchdown receptions.

NFL players often threaten to sit out until they get a new contract, but Bryant seems like one of the few players willing and able to actually do it when the time comes. Both parties need each other, but this saga doesn't appear to have a clear ending in sight.