CeeDee Lamb is playing hardball! The Cowboys’ star wideout is holding out for a monster deal—a move that’s pretty similar to his teammates Zack Martin and Ezekiel Elliott. The trio’s starting to look like a mutiny is brewing in Dallas.
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Martin and Elliott know the drill; they’ve been there and done that. Last year, Martin skipped three weeks of training camp before getting his contract tweaked. In 2019, Elliott was a no-show all of camp and then scored a six-year, $90M contract (with $50M in guaranteed money). Both players got their payday, but not without some serious tension with the Cowboys’ brass, of course.
Now, it’s Lamb’s turn. He led the league in catches last year, setting records with 135 catches and 1749 yards. His holdout this season is just three days and two practices old, as he looks for a payday that reflects his elite status. EVP Stephen Jones, owner Jerry Jones’ right-hand man, is in damage control mode, trying to keep Lamb happy without breaking the bank. “We’re in constant communication with Ceedee’s representation,” Jones said. “We want to get a deal done, but it’s got to make sense for both sides.”
CeeDee Lamb’s camp is clearly holding out. Both Martin and Elliot, knowing the sting of missing camp, totally get where he’s coming from. “It’s a tough mental grind,” Martin said. “You’re isolated, and you miss the camaraderie of the team.” Elliot added, “There’s a lot of pressure on these guys to perform. It’s easy to feel alone when you’re in the middle of contract negotiations.”
But here’s the kicker: Packers’ QB Jordan Love just got a fat contract extension, and Dak Prescott’s deal is still looming. “The Jordan Love deal changes the equation,” Martin said. “It’s a lot of money, and it impacts everyone’s bottom line.” Elliot agreed, adding, “It’s business. But it gets tougher when you see big contracts being handed out.”
This holdout drama is far from over, and Jerry Jones is in a tight spot now.
Jerry Jones in crisis as Jordan Love’s deal pressures Prescott’s contract
Jerry Jones is having a meltdown. And, who can blame him? The Cowboys owner is watching his wallet shrink faster than a deflated football. The latest hit came when the Packers inked Jordan Love to a record-breaking contract extension of four-year, $220M ($75M signing bonus and $155M in new guarantees). It’s a serious blow to the Cowboys, who are still negotiating with their franchise QB, Dak Prescott.
Prescott’s value just shot through the roof, so now the Dallas team has to figure out how to match (or top) Love’s huge contract. That’s going to put even more pressure on Jones’ already tight salary cap.
Jerry and Stephen Jones have a habit of playing chicken with their star players. The ‘wait and see’ strategy backfired spectacularly this time, though. If Jones doesn’t cough up the cash for their QB, he might lose him to another team. But if he does, it could wreck their chances of building a championship roster.
Dallas’ Jerry Jones is stuck in a tough situation, and it’s all down to his own mess-ups.
