Dallas Cowboys executive vice-president Stephen Jones has conceded that the club are "leaning" towards using the franchise tag on star wide receiver Dez Bryant.
The 26-year-old had an outstanding season for the Cowboys in the 2014 campaign as he aided his side's push for the playoffs with 16 touchdown receptions.
However, Bryant and the Cowboys have yet to agree terms on a long-term deal to keep him at the club, which Jones has admitted could see the team designate the player with the franchise tag to keep him under contract for the 2015 season with a $12.5m (£8.1m) salary.
"Right now all things being equal, it's leaning more Dez with the franchise than it is not," Jones told reporters. "But that doesn't mean it will stay that way.
"We don't ever want to give up on a long-term deal. It's something we worked on all of last year and it kind of cooled off once we got into the season.
"We'll continue to see what our options are and things happen quickly as you go along. Things can go along with a lot not going on, but all of a sudden it happens."
Bryant has recorded 381 receptions for 5,424 yards and 56 touchdowns in his five years with the Cowboys.
Simon Sinclair
