Tick-tock. Tick-tock.
With the NFL regular season rapidly approaching, the Dallas Cowboys are dealing with plenty of contract drama off-the-field.
Jerry Jones and the front office are facing mounting pressure to finalize long-term contract extensions for quarterback Dak Prescott and star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and one of the team’s all-time greats isn’t staying silent on the matter.
Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith recently voiced his concerns about the ongoing contract negotiations during an interview with Dallas reporter RJ Ochoa.
Smith emphasized the importance of securing Lamb’s future with the team and outlined the impact this could have on Prescott’s performance.
“Let’s make this very clear. He [Lamb] is a very, very valuable asset to the Dallas Cowboys. He is a very, very valuable asset to Dak Prescott,” Smith explained.
Smith stressed that a quarterback of Prescott’s caliber needs top-tier talent like Lamb to succeed and compete at the highest level.
“Without him on the football field, they’re putting all of the pressure on Dak Prescott now. And that is unacceptable,” Smith said.
“Every quarterback of his caliber should have quality people to throw the ball to. Not no Plan B or no Plan C or no Plan D guy.
“He should be in a position, as your franchise quarterback, he should be in a position to be successful … And right now, you’re putting him behind the eight ball. And that is not right. And that’s how I see it.”
Lamb, who earned first-team All-Pro honors last season by leading the league with 135 receptions for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns, is currently holding out from Cowboys camp until a new deal is reached.
Jerry Jones made headlines by telling reporters that there’s no need for urgency to get an extension done with Lamb.
“I went to high school. I went to college. I don’t know why I said it, but I’m just saying it,” Jones said. “I don’t have a sense of urgency about getting it done. Give any reason you want.”
“We’re getting great work [done] and making real progress,” Jones added. “I don’t think [we’re] losing a step with where we are now.”
Lamb responded to Jones’ controversial comment with a simple “lol” post on social media.
However, it should be noted that Jones also stated that when push comes to shove, he expects to have Lamb in a Cowboys uniform for the long-haul.
“I don’t expect not to have CeeDee Lamb,” Jones confidently affirmed.
How do you think this all ends? … Not just with Lamb but with Prescott and Micah Parsons as well?
Will the Cowboys end up getting an extension done with all three??