CLOSE

SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' Lindsay H. Jones breaks down the matchups that will determine which teams will reach the postseason. USA TODAY Sports

LINKEDIN 4 COMMENTMORE

Former Dallas defensive end DeMarcus Ware criticized wide receiver Dez Bryant for saying he wouldn't take a pay cut, as the Cowboys will miss the playoffs and end a frustrating season Sunday in Philadelphia.

When asked earlier this week by reporters about taking a pay cut, Bryant responded by saying, in part, "hell no!"

Ware, who took a pay cut himself during his time with the Cowboys, said Bryant should rethink his perspective if he wants to stay in Dallas. 

"When you're going against Jerry Jones — he's a businessman," Ware said in an interview on NFL Network this week. "He's going to do whatever it takes for the team. With the $12 million that they owe him, $12.5 million for the next two years, you're going to have to take a pay cut to go and get the extra guys to help out your team and be that team player. I had to do it. (Tony) Romo had to do it. (Jason) Witten had to do it. All those guys have to do those things. 

MORE: USA TODAY Sports' Week 17 NFL picks

MORE: Dez Bryant on taking a pay cut from Cowboys: 'Hell no'

"They're going to go — they already went to Dez and said we're not going to pay you $12.5 (million), can you do something for us to help out the team? If you say no, 'I'm not going to take a pay cut,' guess what, you're not going to be with the Dallas Cowboys."

Ware also said that Bryant didn't have room to turn down a pay cut, considering he underachieved for the better part of the 2017 campaign and hasn't produced the Pro Bowl numbers the team expected. This season, Bryant has 66 receptions for 814 yards and six touchdowns. Compare that to 1,320 yards on 88 receptions and 16 TDs in 2014.

"(Bryant) said he's not going to take a pay cut, and I know guys that they have that are producing right now," Ware said. "You've got Demarcus Lawrence who's producing, you got Zack Martin who's producing. They've got to pay those two guys. You've got Sean Lee. So you've got to figure out where you fit in the scheme of things when you haven't been producing that last couple years, right? And so, if you don't take a pay cut, you're not going to be there."

PHOTOS: NFL Week 17 power rankings

NFL Week 17 Power Rankings
 Fullscreen

Posted!

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

32. Browns (Last Week: 32): When they last drafted
32. Browns (Last Week: 32): When they last drafted No. 1 overall in consecutive years, they picked Tim Couch and Courtney Brown. Let's hope it turns out better this time.  Kamil Krzaczynski, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
31. Giants (31): The latest scar from this forgettable/unforgettable
31. Giants (31): The latest scar from this forgettable/unforgettable season – Sunday's shutout loss at Arizona marked first time franchise has lost 13 games.  Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
30. Texans (29): In a season riddled with disappointment,
30. Texans (29): In a season riddled with disappointment, Houston got a feel-good story Monday as cancer survivor David Quessenberry finally got onto field.  Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
29. Colts (28): Though it never really felt like this
29. Colts (28): Though it never really felt like this team had a chance in 2017, Indianapolis almost always played hard and made it interesting. Props, Coach P.  Tommy Gilligan, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
28. Jets (26): A team positioned to be a player in
28. Jets (26): A team positioned to be a player in free agency in 2018 will add $11 million more in cap space once it's able to finally fire DL Muhammad Wilkerson.  Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
27. Broncos (25): Nothing summed up this season better
27. Broncos (25): Nothing summed up this season better than Brock Osweiler screaming on the sideline at teammates who couldn't have been more disinterested.  Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
26. Bengals (30): After sleepwalking through previous
26. Bengals (30): After sleepwalking through previous two games, give them credit for providing Marvin Lewis with a victorious send-off in his final home game.  David Kohl, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
25. Bears (27): Over last three weeks, opponents averaging
25. Bears (27): Over last three weeks, opponents averaging mere 260 yards against Chicago's defense – perhaps primary reason this team could roar in 2018.  Patrick Gorski, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
24. Dolphins (24): No team has run the ball fewer times
24. Dolphins (24): No team has run the ball fewer times in 2017 than Miami. Adam Gase must find some balance in 2018 as Ryan Tannehill works his way back.  Jay Biggerstaff, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
23. Buccaneers (23): On verge of eating his first W
23. Buccaneers (23): On verge of eating his first W in nearly three months, then seeing it slip away, we can understand why Jameis Winston lost his mind Sunday.  Jeremy Brevard, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
22. Cardinals (22): For a guy who resisted moving to
22. Cardinals (22): For a guy who resisted moving to the slot a few years ago, Larry Fitzgerald might start there in our all-time lineup (with Rice, Moss outside).  Matt Kartozian, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
21. Packers (18): Brett Hundley is almost Aaron Rodgers
21. Packers (18): Brett Hundley is almost Aaron Rodgers on road (8 TD, 3 INT, 97.6 QB rating) and just about DeShone Kizer at Lambeau (0 TD, 7 INT, 50.6 QB rating).  Jeff Hanisch, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
20. Raiders (20): Who would have thought two months
20. Raiders (20): Who would have thought two months ago that Oakland might be the Bay Area team with more quarterback questions entering 2018?  Bill Streicher, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
19. 49ers (21): As impressive as stats and 4-0 record
19. 49ers (21): As impressive as stats and 4-0 record are, Jimmy Garoppolo's poise and offensive command in totally new environment should also excite Niner Nation.  Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
18. Redskins (19): They have nearly a dozen starters
18. Redskins (19): They have nearly a dozen starters on injured reserve. Using that prism, case to be made this is Jay Gruden's finest coaching performance.  Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
17. Lions (15): Detroit clearly has significant issues
17. Lions (15): Detroit clearly has significant issues on both sides of ball. But no excuse to lose to a cratering Bengals club with playoffs still in reach.  Aaron Doster, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
16. Bills (16): Desperately trying to break playoff
16. Bills (16): Desperately trying to break playoff hex, they hardly look ready for step up. Buffalo is 2-5 this year against teams still in postseason picture.  David Butler II, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
15. Cowboys (14): Another difference between Dak Prescott's
15. Cowboys (14): Another difference between Dak Prescott's rookie year and 2017 – he had five fourth-quarter comebacks in 2016 but not one this season.  Tim Heitman, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
14. Titans (17): What happened to their vaunted run
14. Titans (17): What happened to their vaunted run game? Losers of four of past six, Tennessee has only hit century mark on ground once in that span.  Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
13. Chargers (13): Good to see Melvin Gordon finally
13. Chargers (13): Good to see Melvin Gordon finally notch a 1,000-yard season after injuries left him hung on 997 yards in the final weeks of 2016.  Vincent Carchietta, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
12. Seahawks (12): Can anyone explain why Earl Thomas
12. Seahawks (12): Can anyone explain why Earl Thomas suddenly seems so unhappy to be part of one of the greatest defenses in NFL history?  Erich Schlegel, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
11. Falcons (9): With one game to go, Matt Ryan has
11. Falcons (9): With one game to go, Matt Ryan has exactly half as many TD passes (19) as he had in 2016 and hasn't thrown more than two in a game this year.  Derick E. Hingle, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
10. Chiefs (11): With 450 yards from scrimmage and
10. Chiefs (11): With 450 yards from scrimmage and four TDs in last three games, Kareem Hunt has peeled himself off rookie wall and revitalized surging team.  Denny Medley, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
9. Ravens (10): S Eric Weddle's whitened Santa Claus
9. Ravens (10): S Eric Weddle's whitened Santa Claus beard was cool, unfortunately he played a little too much like Santa Claus, dropping an easy INT.  Patrick Semansky, AP
Fullscreen
8. Jaguars (7): Sunday gave us regression from Blake
8. Jaguars (7): Sunday gave us regression from Blake Bortles, a putrid defensive showing and sideline infighting. Maybe they're not ready to make playoff noise.  Kelley L Cox, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
7. Eagles (8): They may have (barely) locked up NFC’s
7. Eagles (8): They may have (barely) locked up NFC’s home field Monday night, but Philly hardly looked like a team ready to thrive in January’s elements.  Bill Streicher, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
6. Panthers (6): Is Julius Peppers really 37 years
6. Panthers (6): Is Julius Peppers really 37 years old? With his 11th sack of season Sunday and two fumble recoveries, he dominated Father Time once again  Jeremy Brevard, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
5. Saints (5): Congrats to Drew Brees, who bypassed
5. Saints (5): Congrats to Drew Brees, who bypassed 70,000 yards Sunday. He's probably six regular-season games away from overtaking Peyton Manning (71,940).  Derick E. Hingle, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
4. Rams (4): If MVPs are defined as players who step
4. Rams (4): If MVPs are defined as players who step up in clutch, then consider Todd Gurley's 456 total yards, six TDs last two weeks as L.A. clinched division.  Jim Brown, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
3. Vikings (3): As long as S Harrison Smith receives
3. Vikings (3): As long as S Harrison Smith receives deserved recognition as an all-pro, we can slough off his ridiculous exclusion from Pro Bowl.  Adam Wesley, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Fullscreen
2. Steelers (2): Le'Veon Bell is first player in three
2. Steelers (2): Le'Veon Bell is first player in three years to get 400-plus touches in a season. Hopefully plenty left in tank as he seeks long-term deal.  Erik Williams, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen
1. Patriots (1): Ground game has quietly exceeded 190
1. Patriots (1): Ground game has quietly exceeded 190 yards in three of past five games, a nice fallback given Tom Brady has six INTs over same stretch.  David Butler II, USA TODAY Sports
Fullscreen

Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries:

    Replay
    Autoplay
    Show Thumbnails
    Show Captions

     

     

    LINKEDIN 4 COMMENTMORE