IRVING, Texas – Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones on Tuesday addressed the status of Dez Bryant and Orlando Scandrick, who have not attended the start of voluntary offseason workouts for what appear to be contract reasons.
Jones reiterated that signing Bryant to a long-term contract is the team's "No. 1 goal" this offseason. Bryant is technically not under contract until he signs his $12.8 million franchise tag tender or negotiates a new multi-year deal.
"That's what we'd like to get done, and we have to be patient with that," Jones said on the Cowboys' flagship radio station 105.3 The Fan. "Those things don't happen overnight, but when they finally do get traction and legs, then they tend to happen quickly. We'll continue to work at that and see where we may progress as we go forward."
Scandrick is signed through 2018 with a $1.5 million base salary for the upcoming season. Indications are Scandrick is skipping the voluntary workouts for now in hopes that the club will take a look at re-working his current deal.
"Orlando's under contract, but not unlike a lot of players, they'd like to have more," Jones said.
Scandrick signed a second contract extension in 2013 that included an additional $9 million in guaranteed money.
"If something makes sense for us to add some years or do something, then we'll take a look at that," Jones said. "But we just re-did Orlando's contract a couple of years ago. He's been a really good football player for us. He's a leader on this team and we certainly need him out here. In my mind he should be out here right now working out."
Cornerback is a clear option for the Cowboys in the upcoming draft. Mo Claiborne is still recovering from knee surgery, and Brandon Carr's future with the team has been a topic of conversation amid speculation he might be asked to take a pay cut to reduce his $12.7 million cap figure for 2015.
"I don't necessarily know that there's a move to be made with Brandon," Jones said. "Those are things we're looking at and we're looking at the big scheme of things."
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