Three days after downplaying the urgency of extending All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb’s contract, Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones took a different stance on Sunday.
“Now I completely understand the anxiety that arises when you’re eager and someone questions whether you’re missed or not. Well, CeeDee, you’re missed, OK?” Jones remarked on the Cowboys’ pregame show before their preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams. “But you’re not missed out here competing, and it doesn’t add any pressure on us.”
Jones’ earlier comments sparked some confusion, even prompting a playful “lol” from Lamb on X (formerly Twitter). When asked initially if he felt any urgency to sign Lamb, Jones swiftly responded with a “no.” His reasoning?
“I don’t know why I said it,” Jones admitted on Thursday. “I don’t have a sense of urgency about getting it done. Put whatever reason you want. I was at Nobu two days ago. Use that as the reason, whatever you want to put out there.”
The Cowboys are actively negotiating with Lamb on a contract extension that would place him among the highest-paid receivers in the NFL. Recently, the Minnesota Vikings secured Justin Jefferson with a four-year, $140 million deal, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league.
Lamb, currently holding out, faces daily fines of $40,000. Missing the Rams’ preseason game could result in nearly $1 million in fines. However, since Lamb is still on his rookie deal, the Cowboys have the discretion to waive those penalties.
Jones’ comments echo a similar situation in 2019, when after a preseason game against the Rams, he jokingly quipped, “Zeke who?” after rookie running back Tony Pollard performed well during Ezekiel Elliott’s contract holdout. Elliott later signed a six-year, $90 million contract extension, with $50 million guaranteed, just before the regular season began.
Although Lamb wasn’t expected to play in the preseason even if he attended training camp, his absence has caused him to miss valuable practice time with quarterback Dak Prescott. He was also absent from the team’s voluntary offseason program and mandatory June minicamp.
The Cowboys are set to kick off the regular season on September 8th against the Cleveland Browns.
