CeeDee Lamb continues to miss training camp, but Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday that the two sides have had “more promising conversations” about his new contract extension with the franchise.
And, perhaps most importantly, Jones didn’t say anything that would create a stir on social media and prompt Lamb to react publicly.
Jones, speaking at training camp in Southern California on Tuesday, said he was optimistic that Lamb would have a new deal in time for Dallas’ season opener against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 8.
“I guess I’m (optimistic) and when I say that, it doesn’t sound too promising,” Jones said. by Todd Archer of ESPN“I actually think we’ll come to an agreement. 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 offered him if we didn’t want him here.”
Lamb has yet to participate in training camp with the Cowboys as he seeks a new long-term contract with the organization. He is entering the final year of his rookie deal with a fifth-year option worth $17.9 million. While it’s unclear what figures Lamb and the Cowboys are working with in their negotiations, 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 receptions last season, all of which were career highs for the former Oklahoma star. He helped lead the Cowboys to the playoffs for the third straight season, though they were eliminated in the wild-card round.
Jones’ comments came just weeks after he initially said there was no sense of urgency in getting the deal done with Lamb, prompting Lamb to delete “America’s Team” from his social media bio and post a very brief message in response.
Jones attempted to clarify a few days later, admitting that his comments got him into “trouble.”
“I totally understand the angst that comes with whether you’re missed or not,” Jones said. “Well, CeeDee, you’re missed.”
As for when that deal will be finalized, though, Jones had nothing to offer. Talks between the two sides will continue as the Cowboys prepare for their final preseason game this weekend and then their first game of the season in less than two weeks.
“I don’t want to be insensitive to our fans or CeeDee, but we’re in good shape and we’re having promising conversations,” Jones said Tuesday. “You say, ‘Well, why are you still talking? Why don’t you do something?’ Again, like anything, it takes both of them being there at the same time.
“But I think it has the right amount of everything — emphasis, importance — for everyone involved here and we’ll see how it goes.”