NFLPA looking at Cowboys bypassing agents to negotiate with players

Kirstie Chiappelli

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NFLPA looking at Cowboys bypassing agents to negotiate with players image

With the regular season one week away, storylines in Dallas are still centered around the team's contract saga.

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But NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo shed some light on the situation, specifically regarding Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper as they seek new deals, saying Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is notorious for bypassing agents to work directly with players.

Now, the NFL Players Association could be getting involved.

According to ProFootballTalk, which cited a source with knowledge of the situation, the NFLPA views the situation as "not good" but will conduct its due diligence before taking action.

However, it shouldn't be difficult to gather evidence considering Jones openly discussed cutting out the middleman on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas this week.

"That's always been the issue with me and my approach to managing the Cowboys," Jones said Wednesday. "When you cut out people in between the money and the player, we all know that agents, attorneys all have their agenda. By the way, they are all taking money out of the pie too when they're there. The straighter it goes from the source to the one receiving it, nine times out of 10 that's more efficient."

Jones' son and Cowboys COO Stephen Jones echoed a similar point of view as the team announced a new deal with linebacker Jaylon Smith last week.

"I have a lot of respect for, you know, most agents," Jones told reporters at the time. "I really do. I think they’re trying to do their job for these players. But I do think sometimes they don’t have the end game that maybe the players should and we do."

The Cowboys open the regular season Sept. 8 against the Giants, and while Prescott and Cooper will play, it remains to be seen if Elliott will continue to sit out.

Kirstie Chiappelli