Jerry Jones Stirs Controversy Over CeeDee Lamb's Holdout
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has found himself at the center of a growing storm surrounding the ongoing holdout of wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. With each passing day, the financial ramifications for Lamb become increasingly severe, spotlighting the escalating stakes in this high-profile standoff.
Lamb is currently facing a $40,000 fine for every day he misses training camp. Additionally, the young wideout faces a penalty equating to 1/18th of his base salary for each preseason game he skips. Given that his base salary for the season is fully guaranteed at $17.991 million, this translates to Lamb risking approximately $999,500 per exhibition game missed.
The situation took a visible turn when Lamb removed all Dallas Cowboys references from his social media bios, signaling a potential deepening rift between player and team. Despite the mounting penalties, the Cowboys do retain the discretion to waive or reduce Lamb’s fines since he is still on his rookie deal. This gives the team some leverage in negotiations, but also adds an unpredictable element to the scenario.
Jones commented on the lack of urgency, stating, "He said that lack of urgency related to their first regular-season game being four weeks away." However, he didn’t shy away from acknowledging Lamb’s absence, adding, "Jones also made a point of mentioning that Lamb was missed."
At the heart of Lamb’s holdout is a desire to be the NFL's highest-paid non-quarterback. The bar for such a distinction was recently raised by wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who signed a lucrative four-year, $140 million extension with the Minnesota Vikings. Jefferson's deal averages $35 million per year and includes $110 million in overall guarantees, with $88.743 million fully guaranteed at signing. This contract eclipsed the previous record held by San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa, who secured a five-year, $170 million extension averaging $34 million per year.
Lamb's impressive 2023 season, where he secured 135 catches for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns, bolsters his case. Leading the league in receptions and ranking second in receiving yards, Lamb was a first-team All-Pro last season and has been highly productive since the start of the 2022 regular season, amassing a league-leading 242 receptions.
The Cowboys' strategy in handling Lamb’s contract negotiations might be complicated further by future extensions for other key players, such as defensive cornerstone Micah Parsons. Historically, the Cowboys have preferred to lock in their core players with hefty, long-term contracts rather than rely on franchise tags, a trend seen since the rookie wage scale's introduction in the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Adding to the urgency is the significant training camp date of August 22, when the Cowboys break camp in Oxnard, California. This looming deadline might push both parties towards a resolution, given the complexities and potential distractions of a prolonged holdout.
Stephen Jones, the Cowboys' Executive Vice President, succinctly summed up Lamb’s position, stating, "Lamb desires to be the NFL's highest-paid non-quarterback." Lamb’s ambition to top the earnings chart is unmistakable, but whether the Cowboys will meet his demands remains to be seen.
The outcome of this standoff carries ramifications not just for Lamb but for the broader dynamics of player salaries and contract negotiations in the NFL. As both sides continue to navigate these turbulent waters, the eyes of the football world remain firmly fixed on Dallas.