Dez Bryant With Roc Nation: Cowboys Wideout Joins Against Jerry Jones’ Wishes

Dez Bryant, the Dallas Cowboys star wide receiver, will be represented by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports, according to a tweet from the rapper’s massive management and entertainment company. Bryant has been working with Dallas on a contract for the past few months, but had not reached agreement. Bryant is expected to get an extremely lucrative contract making him one of the top paid receivers in the National Football League.

Cowboys’ longtime owner and general manager Jerry Jones is reportedly “reluctant” to work with Roc Nation Sports, according to Yahoo! Sports. Bryant leaves powerhouse agent Eugene Parker for Roc Nation Sports. Bryant made $1.78 million this year in the final year of the rookie contract he signed with Dallas in 2010, which Parker negotiated. Bryant left Parker a year later for agent Drew Rosenhaus, but joined with Parker again in August 2012.

Bryant brings Roc Nation’s roster of athletes to 12. He’s the fifth NFL star to join Roc Nation, along with New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith, New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Hakeem Nicks and Detroit Loins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Roc Nation worked alongside NFL agent Tom Condon to secure high-paying contracts for Nicks and Cruz, ESPN reported.

Bryant could enter a similar arrangement with Roc Nation and Condon’s Creative Artists Agency that Nicks and Cruz have in which Condon handles contract negotiations and Roc Nation handles marketing and endorsement deals.

Bryant had a hard day in the Cowboy’s matchup against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, catching just two passes for 15 yards and a touchdown. The 25-year-old was without his starting quarterback as Tony Romo was sidelined with a back injury. Backup Brandon Weeden threw two interceptions and for less than 200 yards against a strong Arizona defense.

Bryant also got into a heated argument with running back Joseph Randle last week that spurred the need for a “tense” team meeting Saturday. Randle and Bryant are at odds over comments Randle made on video during his arrest, in which he compares his crime of stealing underwear and cologne to Bryant’s 2012 arrest for misdemeanor domestic violence for hitting his mother.