Cowboys' Dez Bryant confirms he'll hold out barring long-term deal

With no progress being made toward a long-term contract, Dez Bryant is making it clear he has no intentions of playing the 2015 season under the franchise tag.

The star wide receiver reportedly informed Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones that he'll sit out training camp and regular-season games if an agreement isn't reached by Wednesday's deadline for negotiations, according to Ed Werder of ESPN.

Though Jones later denied the reported hold out threats in a text sent to Werder, it wasn't long before Bryant confirmed the idea himself.

Bryant has long been thought to be considering a lengthy hold out to make his point, and personally informing team officials of his intentions to do so would be a significant step toward that end result.

While the threat of missing regular-season games may prove to be nothing more than a negotiation tactic, the contract standoff between Bryant and the Cowboys doesn't appear likely to be settled anytime soon.

Should Bryant eventually sign the franchise tag and look to re-address his contract situation next offseason, he'd be in line to make $12.8 million this year.

Having establishing himself as one of the league's most dominant wide receivers just five years into his NFL career, however, Bryant is understandably looking to secure his future in Dallas with a multi-year pact at a time where his value as a player may never be higher.