The preparations for the new season are underway, but both the Dallas Cowboys and the Denver Broncos are dealing with off the field issues, such as the contracts of Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas.

Both are wide receivers, and both are going to play on the franchise tag if no agreement is reached before July 15. Both Bryant and Thomas want the same thing more or less: Money like Calvin Johnson made when he signed his mega deal with the Detroit Lions.

That means around $16 million a season, but more importantly is the guaranteed money figure: $48 Million. The Cowboys and the Broncos aren’t exactly willing to give up that kind of money, not when you see both Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald, the other big earner among wide receivers, declining and their teams paying a hefty cap price for it.

Just like big deals for quarterbacks, it does seem like both players are waiting for the other one to set a precedent. Both the Cowboys and the Broncos aren’t in a rush. They can use the franchise tag against next season (for $15 million or something along those lines) which makes it close to $28 million in guaranteed money. Julio Jones and A.C. Green are waiting to see what’s going on as well in this front.

Thomas has been transcendent during the last three seasons with Peyton Manning throwing him the ball, catching 297 passes for 4483 yards and 35 touchdowns, making the Pro Bowl three times. Bryant has made the Pro Bowl in the last two seasons and was a first-team All-Pro in 2014, catching 88 passes  for 1320 yards and 16 touchdowns.