CeeDee Lamb’s Training Camp Holdout Continues: Jerry Jones Optimistic About New Deal
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has expressed optimism that the team and star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb will come to an agreement on a new contract extension before the season opener against the Cleveland Browns on September 8. The two sides have had “promising talks” according to Jones, who spoke at training camp in Southern California on Tuesday.
Lamb has been holding out from training camp, seeking a new long-term deal with the organization. He is entering the final year of his rookie deal on a $17.9 million fifth-year option. While the exact numbers being discussed are unclear, Jones emphasized that the Cowboys want Lamb to remain with the team.
“I think I am [optimistic] and when I say that, it doesn’t sound too promising,” Jones said. “The facts are that I believe we’ll come together. I don’t want to speak for him. That’s not what I’m trying to do. But we wouldn’t have offered him what we’ve offered him if we didn’t want him to be here.”
Lamb has yet to participate in training camp, but Jones’ comments suggest that the two sides are making progress. The Cowboys are preparing for their final preseason game this weekend and then their season opener in less than two weeks.
Lamb’s holdout has been ongoing for several weeks, and Jones’ initial comments about the lack of urgency to get a deal done led to Lamb scrubbing “America’s Team” from his bio on social media and posting a brief message in response. Jones later clarified his comments, admitting that they got him “in trouble.”
In related news, Minnesota Vikings star Justin Jefferson reset the market with a four-year, $140 million extension earlier this summer. Lamb racked up 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns on 135 catches last season, all of which were career highs for the former Oklahoma star.
As the situation continues to unfold, fans will be eagerly awaiting an update on Lamb’s contract status. For now, it seems that the two sides are making progress, and Jones is optimistic about a deal being reached in the near future.
