Dez Bryant and Roc Nation Respond to Jerry Jones, Call JAY-Z Accusation ‘Comical’

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is at the center of a contract dispute with star linebacker Micah Parsons, and his recent comments about negotiations have sparked backlash.

Jones has claimed he prefers to negotiate directly with players rather than their agents, using his past experience with JAY-Z and Roc Nation Sports during Dez Bryant’s contract negotiations as an example.

In a recent interview, Jones explained that the team’s issues with Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta of Athletes First, were rooted in his past dealings with Bryant’s representation in 2015. Jones suggested that JAY-Z, who was involved in Bryant’s negotiations, had promised to personally attend meetings, but ultimately stopped taking his calls.

“Because when we have a problem with the player, the agent is nowhere to be found. Jay-Z said that Dez would make all meetings. Jay-Z and I negotiated the contract, spent hours,” Jones said, alluding to the past contract talks with Bryant.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is at the center of a contract dispute with star linebacker Micah Parsons, and his recent comments about negotiations have sparked backlash.

Bryant, who played for the Cowboys from 2010 to 2017, took to social media to address Jones’ comments. In a tweet, he said, “JERRY JONES I DONT THINK ITS SMART TO MENTION MY NAME. I KEPT QUIET ABOUT A LOT OF UNFAIR SHIT.. ON SOME G SHIT…” Bryant hinted at revealing more details, adding, “WE CAN HAVE STORY TIME IF THATS WHAT WE ARE DOING.”

Roc Nation Sports, which represented Bryant at the time, quickly responded with a statement, calling Jones’ claims “comical” and refuting his version of events.

The agency recalled that in 2015, Jones, along with Roc Nation’s Juan Perez and Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter, negotiated a five-year, $70 million contract for Bryant, including a $45 million guarantee and a $20 million signing bonus. The contract was the second-largest ever for a wide receiver in NFL history at the time.

“In 2015, at the 21 Club, on a napkin, Jerry, Juan Perez, Shawn ‘JAY-Z’ Carter and Stephen Jones negotiated a five-year, $70 million deal, which included a $45 million guarantee and a $20 million signing bonus for Dez Bryant,” the statement read. “The claim that Mr. Carter or Roc Nation representatives did not return a call from Jerry Jones is not only a false statement, but it’s also a comical one.”

As the contract standoff continues, Parsons, a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro player, has reportedly requested a trade from the Cowboys.