Cowboys WR Dez Bryant last week signed with Roc Nation Sports reportedly against the wishes of team Owner Jerry Jones, but Jones was simply trying to help Bryant "save ... some money instead of costing him money," according to ESPN's Skip Bayless. Jones "loves" Bryant and he wants Bryant "to make all he can." But Bayless noted Jones also "loves doing business with" Relativity Sports' Eugene Parker, Bryant's previous agent, because Parker "is a pro's pro." Bayless: "Dez could have gotten a great deal with Eugene as his agent. But with Roc Nation … Jerry will say he doesn’t want a long, bloody, acrimonious negotiation, which this could turn into.” Bayless said Jones was “seeing it as, ‘Dez, you’re going to do a lot better with Eugene Parker with me.’" The "brand play" with Roc Nation "could be great." But Bayless said, "I know what Jerry would say to that. He'd say, ‘Dez, you don't need to improve your brand. You're a Dallas Cowboy.’” ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said, “Young black dude, Roc Nation, Jay Z and the crew coming your way. Nobody’s questioning Eugene Parker … (but) the fact that Jerry Jones is so comfortable with Eugene Parker, that's what makes it a turnoff for Dez Bryant.” Smith noted with a "short window of opportunity, you want to maximize it at every turn." Smith: “Roc Nation is on the come up and what they’re saying is this is about branding beyond the sport … Dez Bryant is saying, ‘They‘re going to do things for me beyond the football field.’” Bayless noted Roc Nation is “just cooler than an older Eugene Parker.” But he added, “I will predict it will cost him some money in negotiations to go with Roc Nation. … He would have gotten more money from Jerry staying with Eugene” (“First Take,” ESPN2, 11/4).
SWING AND A MISS: ESPN.com's Dan Rafael reported welterweight boxer Keith Thurman turned down a three-fight contract with Roc Nation Sports worth a total of $6M "before even bringing it to adviser Al Haymon to discuss." Thurman: "Jay Z's company is a young company. I haven't seen them make guys money yet in boxing. ... I want to see (Jay Z) do something with another fighter before I follow. I don't want to fly on the first airplane." Rafael noted Roc Nation Sports "has been aggressive going after fighters." However, Haymon "would have had to sign off" on Thurman's deal, and Haymon is "no friend of Jay Z's." There is "bad blood there (and with Beyonce, Jay Z's wife) going back to their paths crossing in the music business" (ESPN.com, 11/3).
