The Broncos declined comment on the ESPN report. By colluding on a price point, Denver and Dallas could agree to limit to any potential exorbitant sum, saving each other money in the long run.
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So by chatting, if the Broncos and Cowboys are guilty of it, they could have hashed out some ballpark numbers in an effort to avoid one team going beyond what the other was comfortable paying its star wideout.
Now the connection between the two players has deepened, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that the NFLPA is investigating possible collusion between the Cowboys and Broncos over their unsettled contract situations. The players’ association says it believes the Broncos and Cowboys had contact about each player’s contract. “The NFLPA now is trying to determine if collusion did occur and when to possibly file a claim”, Schefter wrote on Friday afternoon. Thomas and Bryant were drafted two picks apart in the 2010 NFL Draft at No. 22 overall and No. 24 overall, respectively.
Both players can argue they should be paid like the best receivers in the NFL. If long-term deals are not reached before then, both players will play on one-year franchise tags worth $12,823,000.
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This isn’t the first time though, that collusion has been contended in the National Football League, albeit in a very different manner. A recent estimate from spotrac.com suggests that Thomas should be given a five-year, $80.8 million deal.
