CeeDee Lamb sent the Dallas Cowboys front office a message Monday morning following reports their rivals were able to cough up money for their No. 2 wide receiver. There was speculation this month that Lamb would hold out of OTAs this spring if he didn’t receive a new deal from the Cowboys.
Lamb watched as the Philadelphia Eagles extended DeVonta Smith to a three-year extension worth $75 million. Smith is the Eagles’ No. 2 option at wideout behind A.J. Brown. Lamb, the Cowboys’ best offensive weapon, expects to make much more than the $25 million a year Smith is getting from the Eagles.
Per Clarence Hill Jr. with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Lamb did not participate in Monday’s offseason program workout with the Cowboys. Per Hill, Lamb doesn’t have a reason to show up without a new contract:
“Per a source with knowledge of the negotiations or lack there of on a contract extension, “why would he,” Hill wrote.
WR CeeDee Lamb is not participating in the Cowboys offseason program.
Per a source with knowledge of the negotiations or lack there of on a contract extension, “why would he”— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) April 15, 2024
Monday’s workout is voluntary. Lamb is under no obligation to be present with the team at this point. The mandatory portion of OTAs does not begin until June 4th for Dallas.
Per the Cowboys website, the team understands Lamb might hold out to force the front office to make a deal, but the star wide receiver expects to play for Dallas this year:
While it’s unclear if he’ll ultimately hold out to help hasten that endgame, what he said next leaves no room for interpretation, and should provide a sigh of relief for anyone outside of the building wondering if he’ll take the field in one of the most pivotal Cowboys’ seasons in recent memory..
“Winning — I’m looking forward to winning and being out there with my guys, and making another run at this thing,” he said before circling back with his proclamation. “… Yeah, I’ll be in Dallas!”
It’s all fun and games for Lamb and the Cowboys until June.
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