Got the drop at Smoking Section . . .

Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones confirmed to FOX Sports Southwest that the team indeed expects to apply the franchise tag to wide receiver Dez Bryant by Monday’s deadline.
“I still think that it’s probably, you know, would be a stretch to think that we would have something done by Monday and beat the franchise-tag deadline,” Jones said. “Looks like we’re eyeing a franchise tag on Dez, but certainly won’t stop us from working hard to get a long-term deal.”

Kanye West has been slowly unleashing Yeezy season since the dawn of 2015, with his latest unveil being the new single “All Day” which he recently premiered during a rousing performance at the BRIT Awards. The new track, produced by Velous and French Montana, shows a different, more familiar side of West than his upcoming album’s previous releases “Only One” and “FourFiveSeconds.” MTV recently caught up with Velous and got some insight on the making of West’s latest offering. V, a 21-year-old out of Kingston, New York, says he initially gave the track to French, to whom he signed with last June.
“I made that beat while I was sitting on my boys couch watching Saturday Night Live,” he said of the beat making process. “I usually do everything in the studio, but I did that on a couch with a keyboard on my lap just chilling…I guess Kanye was rocking with it, so he gave it to Kanye.”

“I am more jealous of Empire than any piece of television than I’ve seen in a long time,” he said. “It is wonderfully written, amazingly directed. Within the first 11 minutes you knew what every character on that show what their goal [was] and what they wanted and you just let them on the field and let them play.”
He also commended Daniels on his keen ability to successfully push the envelope.
“He’s been expanding people’s minds, what people accept in theater and television for a very long time,” he said. “I love that it’s come to television. I love that there’s some portrayals on television that we’ve never seen before. Especially for network television, we’ve seen it on cable but no one’s ever had the audacity or make this for network television. I think it’s fantastic I think it’s great for the industry; it’s great for unknown actors and actresses. Everybody wants to have Empire Jr. I think it’s really fantastic.”

It’s just a frustrating time for Durant. Hopefully he can get back to basketball soon to take away the extra time he has to notice these distractions.

The VA players are back at it. Missy Elliott and Pharrell Williams hit the studio this week to cook up some new music.
Missy tweeted a photo of her and Skateboard P in the lab. The Super Bowl performer dons a Biggie and Tupac T-shirt, while Pharrell throws up the peace sign.
“VA! 2 up 2 down! Me & my fam @Pharrell hard at work,” said Missy.
Got the drop at NY Daily News . . .
Manny Pacquiao has come out of musical retirement to record a song which he will use during his walkout against Floyd Mayweather when the pair finally meet this summer, according to the Philippines’ GMA News.