- Dallas Cowboys. Dak Prescott wants to have CeeDee Lamb in a Cowboys uniform for a long time
- Dallas Cowboys. CeeDee Lamb laughs at Jerry Jones' dismisive comments about his contract
The Dallas Cowboys' offseason soap opera seems never-ending. With the preseason just around the corner, Dallas still hasn't resolved the situation with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and team legend Emmitt Smith is already fed up, warning that it may even affect quarterback Dak Prescott.
Lamb has been a key player in head coach Mike McCarthy's strategy for the past four seasons. Despite this, the management, led by owner Jerry Jones, has not yet reached an agreement with the player, who just completed his rookie contract.
After being drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, Lamb signed a four-year, $14 million contract with the Cowboys. If Jones exercises his fifth-year option, he would have to pay the receiver another $17.9 million. In comparison, the Minnesota Vikings recently extended a four-year, $140 million contract to star receiver Justin Jefferson.
In protest, Lamb has not shown up for training camp, and the team has consequently scratched him from its active roster. Tired of the back-and-forth on the situation, Emmitt Smith issued a strong warning to Jones and his front office.
Emmitt Smith's take
The former running back, who played 13 years for the Cowboys, was very clear in his statements about Lamb's situation. "He [Lamb] is a very, very valuable asset to the Dallas Cowboys. He is a very, very valuable asset to Dak Prescott," he explained in a conversation with reporter RJ Ochoa.
Smith emphasized that Lamb's absence affects the entire team, but particularly its quarterback. "Without him on the football field, they're putting all the pressure on Dak Prescott now. And that's unacceptable," the former running back said.
He pointed out that a quarterback with Prescott's ability needs top-level receivers to excel. "Not some Plan B, Plan C, or Plan D guy. As your franchise quarterback, he should be in a position to be successful."
Smith argued that by prolonging negotiations with Lamb, the Cowboys are putting Prescott in a difficult situation for the 2024 season. "And that is not right. That's how I see it," he added.
The Prescott situation
The outlook for the Cowboys is not at all encouraging. Beyond the contract issue with Lamb, they also have to address Prescott's demands. The star quarterback is entering the last year of his most recent contract with the team and wants to start negotiating a new deal as soon as possible.
Prescott is seeking a substantial increase from his current salary, which averages $40 million a year. Some sources indicate that the quarterback aims to secure an average salary of $70 million a year. The initial discussions between the team and the player have been tense and have not yet yielded an agreement.
Smith was direct in his assessment, stating that fans are getting tired of seeing the team reach the postseason year after year without making it to the Super Bowl in over 20 seasons. "It's all of that going on right now. And people are sick and tired of watching it," warned the legendary runner.