NFL-Bryant, Cowboys agree five-year deal - report

July 15 (Reuters) - Two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Dez Bryant and the Dallas Cowboys have hammered out a five-year, $70 million contract ahead of Wednesday's deadline, nfl.com reported. Bryant, who had been tagged as a franchise player by the Cowboys, agreed in principle to the deal, the official website reported. The Cowboys had yet to officially confirm the contract. While the deal falls short of the $16 million per year earned by Detroit wide receiver Calvin Johnson, Bryant's $14 million average per season exceeds the $12.82 million he would have made in 2015 by signing his franchise tag. The deal would end a drawn-out drama in which negotiations stalled between Dallas and Bryant, who threatened to skip training camp and regular-season games without a new long-term contract. Bryant is coming off a big season in which the 26-year-old set a career mark with 16 touchdowns and hauled in 88 catches as Dallas won the NFC East with a 12-4 record before losing to Green Bay in the Divisional Round of playoffs. The rugged and elusive receiver has registered three successive 1,200-plus-yard campaigns despite being subjected to constant double-team coverages. Bryant will be rejoining a talented cast of wideouts that also includes Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley. (Reporting by Larry Fine in New York; Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)