The Dallas Cowboys are preparing for the 2024 NFL season, a year that could very well determine the immediate future of the franchise, or at least that of several people associated with it. One of these people is head coach Mike McCarthy, who has led the Cowboys to a 12-5 regular season record in each of the past three seasons.
Despite the regular season success that Dallas has enjoyed under McCarthy, they have only gone 1-3 in the NFL Playoffs during his tenure. For a team that is desperate to get back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 1995 season, that kind of performance simply is not acceptable.
As a result, team owner Jerry Jones has decided not to give Coach McCarthy a contract extension, making him a lame duck head coach in 2024, the final year of his current deal.
The Dallas Cowboys Are Without Wide Receiver CeeDee Lamb During Training Camp
As explained above, Coach McCarthy has a great deal riding on Dallas achieving a high level of success this season. Unfortunately, he is getting ready for the 2024 campaign without one of his best players: wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
Of course, Lamb is currently holding out for a new contract. Last season, Lamb led the Cowboys with 135 catches for 1,749 yards, and 12 touchdowns. While scheduled to play on his fifth-year option, Lamb wants a raise similar to the one the Minnesota Vikings gave Justin Jefferson (who was drafted the same year as Lamb) earlier this offseason.
Jefferson’s four-year $140 million extension will pay him an average annual salary of $35 million a year, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL.
Recent reports revealed that Lamb just turned down a contract extension offer from Dallas that would have paid him $33 million a year.
Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Mike McCarthy Reveals His Level of Concern Regarding the CeeDee Lamb Holdout
The general consensus around the NFL is that Lamb and the Cowboys will eventually come to an agreement. However, not having Lamb in training camp does nothing positive for the rest of the team.
Earlier today, McCarthy was asked about his level of concern regarding his All-Pro wide receiver’s holdout. He responded (per Jon Machota), “I think just like anything, you have to have a plan. It’s something we reconvene every single night (about) first as a staff and more so myself and the coordinators.
“We have a plan for the work each and every day, and we make those adjustments accordingly. When CeeDee does come back, we’ll adjust and make sure that we’re ready to go. Right now, we’re preparing the other guys.”
As one can see from McCarthy’s comments, the team is preparing for each day as if Lamb is not going to be there, which is smart. Despite the confidence among the team that a deal will get done, there is no telling when it will happen.
When (not if) the two sides come to an agreement, McCarthy will be ready. However, right now he is working with the players he has in front of him.
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