Cowboys & CeeDee Lamb at fault for $136,000,000 deal’s deadline: Report
CeeDee Lamb and the Cowboys have reached an agreement after an entire offseason of negotiations and drama from both sides. Lamb became the second-highest-paid non-QB player in the history of the NFL. However, the timing of this deal could be a pain point for both parties.
The Dallas Cowboys handed their star wide receiver a $136 million deal for four years. After the dust on Lamb’s holdout and Jerry Jones’ words have settled, NFL analyst Mike Florio raised eyebrows at the deadline set for this deal.
Writing for the Pro Football Talk highlights, Florio said that in the NFL before any negotiations take place, both parties have a mental deadline set. Florio added that the deadline for Minnesota Vikings and Justin Jefferson allowed both to play hardball with each other. However, it did not hamper preparation for the next season.
Jefferson was able to participate in a couple of offseason practise sessions and the entire training camp. Whereas CeeDee Lamb missed the entire offseason, unable to get on the same page with his peers and coaches. Lamb effectively will have to play catch-up towards the beginning of the season.
Florio contends that while Lamb had hinted at wanting to be at the camp, it was Jerry Jones’ “no urgency” call, that could have potentially delayed the contract.
CeeDee Lamb could be an injury risk
Apart from being unable to get the new and altered plays at the Cowboys, Mike Florio predicts Lamb could be an injury risk due to the timing of the contract. Florio appeared on ‘Pro Football Talk’ and highlighted the possibility of the WR’s injury.
“There's another detriment to this beyond not having the preparation that he would have had by being there for a normal camp”, said Florio. “There's gonna be a desire, an urgency, a passion, to maybe overdo it, and maybe that's how you pop a hamstring, right? 'I gotta go extra hard. I gotta make up for lost time.”
The Cowboys start their campaign on September 8 on the road against the Cleveland Browns. CeeDee Lamb has less than three weeks to get back to his playing form to show the world he’s worth every penny of a $136 million contract.