Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has sought to clarify his recent comments regarding star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, after facing significant criticism from fans.
The ongoing contract negotiation between the Cowboys and Lamb has stretched into the preseason, with no agreement yet reached.
Jones’ remark suggesting there was no urgency to finalize the deal had drawn scrutiny from the Cowboys’ faithful (and an “lol” from Lamb himself).
Prior to the Cowboys’ preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, Jones addressed the controversy and underscored his appreciation for Lamb’s contributions on the field.
“I think I got in trouble about it the other day when I said, ‘Look, we’re not urgent about CeeDee,’” Jones said. “Well, no one appreciates CeeDee being on the field any more than I do.
“But let me say this, he wouldn’t be taking a snap out here today if he’d been here. You’ve got to use your head when you expose key players,” Jones continued.
“We know exactly what CeeDee can do. He worked out with Dak. And so we wouldn’t have him out here. It has really not anything to do with his contract. Dak won’t be out here this afternoon.”
Acknowledging the concerns of Cowboys fans who are eager for a resolution before the critical 2024 season, Jones emphasized that there is no pressing need to finalize the deal during the preseason.
“The reality is, there’s no rush,” Jones stated. “I get the anxiety, but CeeDee is missed in practice, but it doesn’t create any additional pressure to finalize his contract right now.”
Lamb, entering the final year of his rookie contract worth $17.99 million, is pushing for a new agreement that reflects his elite status, aiming for a salary in the $32-35 million range.
His holdout from mandatory minicamp resulted in fines totaling approximately $100,000, with additional daily fines of $40,000 during Training Camp.
What do you think ends up happening with Lamb? … What type of contract do you think he’s truly deserving of???