The NFL’s first complete Sunday schedule of the 2024 regular season is just 23 days away, starting on Friday.
The Dallas Cowboys will take on 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett on the road, while the Cleveland Browns defense will face the team that gave up the fewest total yards per game (270.2) since the 2014 “Legion of Boom” Seattle Seahawks defense gave up 267.1 yards a game ten years prior.
With wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, a 2023 All-Pro who led the NFL in catches (135), was second in the league in receiving yards (1,749), and third in receiving touchdowns (12), Dallas would naturally desire to take on that formidable team. He eclipsed both of Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin’s single-season Cowboys records with 135 catches and 1,749 receiving yards. But the 25-year-old wide receiver has been waiting for a new contract before the 2024 season, which is the last year of his rookie contract, therefore he has not attended a single second of the Cowboys offseason program, including training camp.
With only a few weeks until the start of the regular season, Jerry Jones, the general manager and owner of the Cowboys, claimed a week ago that he did not feel a “sense of urgency” to rush to get Lamb’s agreement done. However, it seems Jones may have now altered his mind. In an attempt to reach an agreement, the Dallas front office and Lamb’s agent spoke over the phone on Thursday before the club left for their second preseason game in Las Vegas, according to The Dallas Morning News.
.. The Dallas Morning News said that Lamb was extended an offer by the Cowboys that was “slightly under $33 million per season.”
With that figure, Lamb would be the second-highest paid wide receiver in the NFL in terms of average annual salary, barely ahead of A.J. Brown of the Eagles ($32 million APY) and behind Justin Jefferson of the Vikings ($35 million APY), his 2020 draft classmate. It may no longer be the case for Lamb, even if Cowboys COO Stephen Jones stated during Dallas’ inaugural training camp press conference that both Lamb and edge rusher Micah Parsons wanted to be the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback, which translates to be paid more than Jefferson. While San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa, the second-highest paid non-quarterback, signed a five-year, $170 million contract with $122.5 million in guaranteed money, Jefferson signed a four-year, $140 million deal with $110 million in guaranteed money.
Lamb has lost a lot of time training with his teammates, but head coach Mike McCarthy is not concerned about how his best pass catcher will appear after his contract issues are settled.
“CeeDee is missed. We adore CeeDee. When he comes here, he will be fantastic. McCarthy stated on Friday that “he is in the middle of a business situation.” .. “Everything that occurs in fight club seems to stay in fight club. It is his business what occurs in the corporate world. Yes, we are completely confident in his work ethic and know that he will arrive here prepared to work and go as soon as the opportunity arises. I simply remarked, “Hey, this is business; we will take care of the football when get here,” to CeeDee when I finally got to see him. He is an avid workout enthusiast, therefore I do not want him to worry about that. It does not worry any of us what he will look like.
Lamb’s suitability for Week 1 was recently affirmed by Parsons, and quarterback Dak Prescott of Dallas 2023 Second squad All-Pro said Lamb is prepared to rejoin the squad. Now it is just a matter of Jerry and Stephen Jones finishing the transaction.
“I received a wonderful happy birthday greeting from him on my recent birthday. That also sparked some conversations,” Prescott remarked. “He informed me that he is prepared and eager to return. I know I am hoping that this is resolved for him as well. We are hoping to have him back as soon as possible. I am aware that he is working, scratching, and grinding. He is eager to rejoin the boys.”
