With preseason games underway and training camps in their third week, CeeDee Lamb and the Dallas Cowboys still don’t have a new deal in place.
With the star wide receiver choosing to hold out until an agreement is reached, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones gave an unusual answer to a question about the progress of the deal.
CeeDee Lamb Responds to Jerry Jones Saying No Urgency in Extension Talks
Fresh off a productive day on the field, a day in which the Cowboys hosted the Los Angeles Rams for a joint practice, Jones met with the collective media to discuss a variety of topics, one of which was the looming Lamb contract.
Jones provided an answer that not many expected to hear.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on contract talks with CeeDee Lamb: “I don’t have any urgency to get it done.” pic.twitter.com/Hfq2Rjk65C
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota)
The Athletic’s Jon Machota took to X, formerly Twitter, to share Jones’s latest thoughts on Lamb and the ongoing contract situation.
“I don’t have any urgency to get it done,” Jones states.
The comment is surprising, as Lamb has been away from the team all offseason, including minicamp and now all of training camp. With Week 1 approaching fast, one would assume Jones and the Cowboys would feel a sense of urgency to get their best offensive weapon back in the fold.
Jones provided a bit more clarity on the situation, proving that it may not have been as pointed a comment as it was initially perceived.
“We’re getting great work [done] and making real progress. I don’t think [we’re] losing a step with where we are now,” he said.
While the comment caught many in attendance by surprise, the statement even caught the attention of Lamb himself.
— CeeDee Lamb (@_CeeDeeThree)
Three little letters are all it took for Lamb to get his message across — “lol.”
Following Lamb’s reaction, the superstar wide receiver allegedly took things a step further and removed “America’s Team” from his X bio, which now just reads “eights” in reference to his jersey number, 88.
Later in the evening, Lamb took things a step further by changing his header image to one of himself and Kansas City Chiefs WR Marquise Brown. This sent shockwaves through social media as fans began to imagine a world where the Cowboys WR could potentially team up with superstar Patrick Mahomes.
Ceedee Lamb has updated his header to a picture with him and #Chiefs WR Marquise Brown😳 What is happening! https://t.co/1MvER5EyBM
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365)
While it appears Jones and Co. are not in a rush to get a Lamb deal done, quarterback Dak Prescott was quick to point out that he feels the opposite.
When asked about Jones’ comment, Prescott was quick to point out that he wants his WR1 back in the fold.
“I got urgency for it to happen,” Prescott said.
This is all while Prescott himself is also awaiting a new deal. But in the case of his teammate and friend, the veteran quarterback is making it clear that he wants his big-play target back in the fold sooner rather than later.
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Even star Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons took to social media to repost Lamb’s comment, setting up what looks to be rallying support from his teammates.
While a lot has unfolded on Thursday night, it doesn’t take much to assume that Lamb and his representatives are not completely happy with the way the contract negotiations are going.
Jones’ comment, whether out of context or not, will not help matters. And with the clock ticking towards Week 1, there seems to be more uncertainty than many had originally thought.
Cowboys Should Have More Urgency in Getting Lamb Deal Done
With the Lamb contract saga taking a new, more unusual turn, the situation between the team and the player is getting a little murkier. Lamb is coming off a career year, solidifying himself as one of the very best wide receivers in the league, and he’s looking to be paid as such.
However, as they seemingly always do, the Cowboys have slow-played the deal, setting up a contentious situation that has seemingly come to a head on Thursday night.
While the wide receiver market is booming this offseason, with many of Lamb’s counterparts receiving lucrative deals in a timely fashion, he finds himself still waiting.
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Wide receivers Justin Jefferson, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Nico Collins, Amon-Ra St. Brown, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jerry Jeudy, Michael Pittman Jr., and Mike Evans, all received a deal this offseason.
Even Brandon Ayiuk is on the verge of getting a new contract and could have it agreed upon, while Ja’Marr Chase could see his deal get done any time now as well.
https://www.https://www.tiktok.com/@pfsn365/video/7387116923990904110?_r=1&_t=8oiKPEm1MMA
All this adds up and makes sense for why the Cowboys’ star receiver would be upset and possibly reaching a boiling point.
The Cowboys historically have drawn out contract negotiations, have seemingly made things harder than they have to be, and cause unnecessary tension between player and organization.
A deal may eventually get done as many expect, and all of this back and forth could eventually become water under the bridge. However, as his teammates prepare for preseason game No. 1, Lamb finds himself at the first point of public contention as he continues to wait for a much-earned new contract.