At the start of 2024 training camp, CeeDee Lamb is still in a holding pattern (or rather, a holdout), but he is by no means the only star who is presently negotiating a deal.
Dak Prescott, the quarterback, is another; his negotiations over money haven’t featured a holdout this offseason, and while he teased the response, he gave it anyway. He stated, “I’m just here so I don’t get fined,” after the team’s initial practice.
Channeling his inner Marshawn Lynch, there’s a fair dose of humor in that comment, but it’s also accurate, given that he and Lamb are in rather different circumstances.
First, Prescott is no longer a rookie and cannot have any holdout fines waived. Because of the fairly large difference in Prescott’s current 2024 salary,
the All-Pro quarterback would ultimately be hit with fines that are significantly larger. On the other hand, Lamb is still under contract and the Cowboys may waive any fines he is assessed for being absent ($40,000 per day).
The second argument is just as straightforward but focuses on health: Lamb is free to play during full-contact workouts whereas Prescott is not permitted to be touched, necessitating far greater risk mitigation on Lamb’s part.
Glad we’re all on the same page with that, yes?
Now for what the people in charge of the contract negotiations have to say about the current state of affairs as of July 26. To be perfectly clear, I don’t think so.
“I don’t think this will be his last season with the Cowboys—at all,” general manager and owner Jerry Jones stated. “Am I acting insane in light of my mirror? No, no. It’s quite obvious, and in case it wasn’t, let me reiterate how much Dak Prescott has positively impacted this club.
“When he’s on the field, the players do perform better. Without a doubt, he elevates the performance of everyone around him. Thus, I’m standing next to his biggest admirer.”
Prescott, who has repeatedly expressed his desire to play for the Cowboys until he hangs up his cleats, shares that sentiment.
However, he also knows that nothing is guaranteed in the NFL, and the recent storyline of best friend and re-signed running back Ezekiel Elliott serves as a direct and moving reminder of this reality.
The 2023 NFL MVP runner-up is more focused on the task at hand and, ultimately, he believes that whatever happens will be what’s meant to happen, even though all he wants is to be wearing a Cowboys uniform come 2025 (he cannot be franchise tagged again). Prescott stated on Thursday, “I think it’s a two-way street.”
“I have wants, and they have wants.” As a business, it goes without saying that I want to be here.
“Talking about maturing, this is where I developed into a man, but in the end, it’s just business. Well, I’m going to say it. I wish I could be here, but all of the great quarterbacks I’ve watched have played for different clubs, you know? That being said, my argument is that there is nothing to be afraid of.
“That may be a reality for me one day.”
In all honesty, neither side is naive, even if Jones and the Cowboys seem to be doing everything in their power to keep it from happening.
Jones alluded to the pay cap when he remarked, “Believe it or not, in my life, I’ve had a lot of things I wanted that I couldn’t get because I couldn’t afford it.” Have I grown accustomed to that in my eighty-odd years? I’ve certainly done so, and life does go on.
And occasionally, after such a setback, you bounce back and do better than if you had received what you had desired.”
If you hadn’t had to go through everything in order to get there, you never would have known. That has been reflected in certain aspects of my life with the Cowboys.”
Though true, it’s also true that sometimes you unintentionally let a good thing slip away only to discover later that nothing else comes close to what you had, lest the days of pre-Tony Romo/post-Troy Aikman be lost to history. There are moments when it seems like there is more greenery on the other side since it’s paint instead of grass.
A coin always has two sides, after all.
“It may not be my decision,” said Prescott.
As things stand, both parties are in favor of closing the deal, and Prescott has made it clear that he “has his money” and “would never ask someone else to take less” in order to maximize his earnings from the upcoming deal.
This was demonstrated this past spring when he agreed to allow his contract to be reworked to free up several million dollars ahead of free agency, rather than simply restructuring it, which is not required.
Now it’s all about getting the deal done, whenever that might be.
The three-time Pro Bowler advised, “Be where your feet are, make the most of it, be confident in yourself, and improve your team.” “I cherish my teammates.
This locker room is my favorite. Being a Dallas Cowboy and living here in Oxnard are two things I adore. That gives me the freedom to concentrate.”
And that’s what all of the players and coaches, including head coach Mike McCarthy and Prescott, have in common:
