NFLPA claims Cowboys, Broncos may have colluded over Dez Bryant, Demaryius Thomas contracts

The NFL Players Association is currently reviewing whether the Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys colluded over the unsettled contracts of Demaryius Thomas and Dez Bryant, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. An NFLPA official told Schefter that the union believes the two teams made contact to discuss the star wide receivers.

Both players are haggling for long-term extensions after being handed franchise tags this offseason. The tag means both players will earn $12.823 million next season, making them some of the highest-paid receivers in the league. The tag comes with little security, however. Without extensions in place, Thomas and Bryant are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents in 2016.

The two are roughly equivalent players, so it would make sense if the Broncos and Cowboys wanted to get together to discuss their situations. Bryant and Thomas should command similar deals when or if they are extended. The problem is that NFL teams are prohibited from making such contact. By discussing contract terms with one another, the Broncos and Cowboys could, in theory, artificially cap the market value of their wideouts.

Both players can argue they should be paid like the best receivers in the NFL. Thomas finished second in the NFL with 1,619 yards receiving last season, and Bryant led the league with 16 touchdown receptions to go with 1,320 yards. At 27 and 26 years old, respectively, both players should be remain very good for the foreseeable future.

That puts the Broncos and Cowboys in a precarious situation, because either player could redefine the salary ceiling for top wideouts, just as Calvin Johnson did in 2012. By colluding, the two teams could save each other a lot of money.

The deadline for both players to be signed to long-term extensions is next Wednesday, July 15. At that point, both players will have to sign their franchise tenders if new deals aren't in place, or risk losing money. Both players have reportedly threatened holdouts that could extend into the regular season if their situations aren't settled by then.