Why did Cowboys owner Jerry Jones say he has no urgency to sign hold out WR CeeDee Lamb
Did Dallas owner Jerry Jones have his “Zeke who?” moment with holdout receiver CeeDee Lamb?
Time will tell.
But Jones didn’t come across well to his receiver after Thursday’s joint practice against the Los Angeles Rams.
Asked if he had a sense of urgency to get the Lamb contract done with the preseason starting Sunday against the Rams, Jones answered: “No.”
He was then asked why.
“Why? I just ... I went to high school. I went to college. I don’t know why. I said it,” Jones said with a laugh. “I don’t have a sense of urgency of getting it done. Give any reason you want.”
Jones laughed again.
Of course, Lamb saw the comment on the social media app X and responded with with “Lol.”
Lamb’s post was retweeted by Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons.
And quarterback Dak Prescott got wind of the Jones comments and chimed in after his news conference.
“I know y’all want to ask, I got urgency for it to happen,” Prescott said.
Lamb is now three weeks into his holdout.
He is scheduled to make $17.9 million in 2024 in the final year of his rookie deal.
Lamb to looking for a contract extension similar to that of Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson, who got a deal worth $35 million annually.
The Cowboys have traded proposals with Lamb’s agent, Tory Dandy, but have not come to an agreement.
What’s also true is that Dandy has spent the last week in Paris at the Olympics, returning Thursday.
And while it might not be urgent to Jones, the situation is urgent and very personal to Lamb.
His frustration over Jones’ comment also included him taking the Cowboys America’s Team moniker off his social media handles.
The situation is reminiscent of the 2019 holdout of running back Ezekiel Elliott, who didn’t appreciate Jones jokingly saying, “Zeke who?” following a strong preseason game from then-rookie running back Tony Pollard.
Of course, Elliott’s 40-day holdout would end with his getting a six-year, $90 million deal that made him the NFL’s highest-paid running back.
It will most likely be a similar ending with Lamb, considering the Cowboys have always ended protracted negotiations and holdouts with a deal to the player’s liking.
The same thing happened in last year’s training camp when Jones eventually caved to right guard Zack Martin’s demands and gave him an upgraded contract after a three-week holdout.
To be clear, Jones values Lamb, who led the NFL in catches last season while breaking the franchise record for yards.
Jones’ lack of urgency about getting Lamb into camp is more about knowing what the Cowboys have in Lamb and not wanting to risk him to injury, rather than not wanting to get a deal done.
It also allows the young receivers on the roster to develop with extended reps with Prescott.
“We’re getting great work [done] and making real progress,” Jones said. “I don’t think [we’re] losing a step with where we are now.”
Vice president Stephen Jones the Doomsday podcast at the same time his father was speaking to the media.
And he made it clear that Lamb wasn’t going anywhere.
“We think the world of CeeDee, and we understand where he’s coming from on this and why he’s not here,” Stephen Jones said. “But we also continue to work very hard on getting this deal done. . . . Zero. Zero. Zero thought process of not having CeeDee be a Dallas Cowboy. CeeDee’s not going to be playing anywhere but Dallas, but we want this to be a great situation for him when we’re all said and done but also a good situation so that we can put a great football team on the field.”
The Cowboys believe a deal will get done.
It’s just a matter of when.
And whenever that happens, they don’t believe they will have trouble getting Lamb back up to speed.
Prescott said it will take only one or two practices for he and Lamb to get one the same page.
Coach Mike McCarthy said the Cowboys are going to be smart when Lamb does return.
Until then he will let him take care of his financial business.
“Number one, we miss CeeDee. We love CeeDee,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “He’ll be great once he gets there. But he’s in the middle of a business situation. You clearly have to separate that. I think when you when you involve business, it’s like Fight Club. What happens in Fight Club stays in fight club. So whatever happens, his business is his business.
We have all the confidence and just the way he works that he’s coming here ready to go. When that time comes we’ll pick up like he never left.”
This story was originally published August 8, 2024 at 7:54 PM.
