Doubts about Dez?

Dez Bryant might not get as much guaranteed money as he's hoping for. (USATSI)

Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant will definitely be playing under a new contract next season, but that contract might not be for the kind of money he's hoping for.

According to NFL.com, the Cowboys are hesitant to give Bryant a large sum of guaranteed money because they "do not trust [him] off the field." NFL.com reported that police in DeSoto, Texas, have been called to Bryant's house on at least six occasions, although there have been no arrests.

In one of the instances where police arrived at Bryant's house, they had to get a sleeping baby out of a locked car. In another incident, police were called because of a robbery at the house.

NFL.com also added that the Cowboys did make Bryant a 10-year, $114 million offer, however, negotiations didn't go anywhere because only $20 million of the contract was guaranteed.

Negotiations could get even rockier going forward thanks to Bryant's decision to change representation last week.

Bryant parted ways with agent Eugene Parker and signed with Jay Z's Roc Nation group. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones didn't want Bryant to sign with Roc Nation, and Jones will be "reluctant" to do a deal with them.

Apparently, Bryant is starting to notice that things have gotten tense. Earlier this week, the Dallas Morning News reported that the uncertainty surrounding his contract negotiations was starting to "weigh" on Bryant.

Bryant is being paid $1.78 million this season as he plays out the final year of his rookie deal that he signed after the Cowboys selected him with the 24th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

The Cowboys receiver indicated before the season started that he should be paid in the upper echelon of wide receivers. Detroit's Calvin Johnson, who's playing under a seven-year, $113.5 million deal, is the NFL's highest paid receiver.

Of course, if Bryant and the Cowboys can't negotiate a deal, Dallas always has the option of using the franchise tag.

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QB Ryan Mallett to take over for Texans; Ryan Fitzpatrick benched



The Houston Texans have made a change at quarterback. Ryan Fitzpatrick has been benched in favor of Ryan Mallett.Mallett, the New England Patriots' third-round pick in 2011, will get his first career start after serving as a backup for Tom Brady the first three years of his career. He has thrown four career passes: one completion, two incompletions and one interception.The Texans are on bye in Week 10. They will return in Week 11 against the Browns in Cleveland.



Head coach Bill O'Brien feels that Mallett is ready to take this job and run with it. He does have a big arm, so they'll take their shots to wide receivers Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins. Making the change on their bye week is a good move as it gives Mallett an extra week to work with the first-team offense.While Johnson is currently showing signs of being disgruntled, he will still be a focal point of the offense. It will be interesting to watch for further reports coming out of Houston between now and the team's Week 11 game at Cleveland about how Mallett is connecting with the rest of the offense. Overall, the move should improve the fantasy stock of Johnson, Hopkins and probably even RB Arian Foster.