The Dallas Cowboys are hard at work preparing for the 2024 NFL season. However, they are doing so without one of their best players: All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. After leading Dallas with 135 receptions for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns a season ago, the three-time Pro Bowler wants a new contract extension.
And he will not report to training camp until he gets it.
For weeks, the Cowboys and Lamb have been negotiating a contract extension to keep the star wide receiver in Dallas for the foreseeable future. The problem, though, is that the two sides are still far apart on a deal. It was recently reported that Lamb turned down a contract that would have paid him $33 million a year.
It appears that he really is shooting for $35 million annually, like the Minnesota Vikings gave Justin Jefferson earlier this year.
Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Made Waves by Saying Extending CeeDee Lamb Is Not “Urgent”
A little over a week ago, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was asked if he felt any sense of urgency to get a deal done with Lamb. His reply was a simple, “No.”
Needless to say, fans (as well as Lamb himself) were not happy with Jones’ perceived indifference regarding the ongoing contract negotiations.
A few days later, Jones tried to walk back his answer by saying, “I think I got in in trouble the other day when I said we weren’t urgent about CeeDee. Nobody wants CeeDee on the field more than I do.”
He later said, “Now I understand completely the angst that’s happening when you’re anxious about, and someone says anything about whether you’re missed or not, well CeeDee you are missed. But you’re not missed out here competing and it doesn’t put any pressure on us.”
Many did not feel like Jones’ clarification made the situation any better. Still, the feeling around the league is that the two sides will eventually come to an agreement.
Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Makes New Statement on CeeDee Lamb Contract Talks
On Tuesday, Jones was asked once again about the ongoing talks with Lamb. He chose his words a little more carefully this time around, saying (via Jon Machota), “I think I am [optimistic]. And when I say that, it doesn’t sound too promising. The facts are that I believe we’ll come together. I don’t want to speak for him. That’s what I’m trying not to do. But we wouldn’t have offered him what we’ve offered him if we didn’t want him to be here.”
The offer Jones is referring to is the aforementioned on that would have paid Lamb $33 million.
While there is not really a major update in the talks, fans can rest assured that the organization is taking negotiations seriously and are motivated to get a contract done.
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