Dallas Cowboys executive vice-president Stephen Jones has admitted that the club are ready to use the franchise tag on star wide receiver Dez Bryant.
The club have until Monday to decide on whether to use the tag, which will keep the All-Pro under contract for the 2015 season for a salary of $12.5m [£8.1m] for the year.
Jones has admitted that the Cowboys are still determined to reach a long-term agreement with Bryant, but has conceded that the parties are unlikely to settle on a deal in the near future.
He told Fox Sports: "I still think that it's probably, you know, would be a stretch to think that we would have something done by Monday and beat the franchise-tag deadline.
"Looks like we're eyeing a franchise tag on Dez, but certainly won't stop us from working hard to get a long-term deal.
"We just don't want to lose his rights. We think Dez is a, you know, unique player and certainly a big part of what we do in terms of what we've done, our success, and certainly going forward."
Bryant recorded 88 receptions for 1,320 yards along with 16 touchdowns for the Cowboys last season.
Simon Sinclair
