CeeDee Lamb's pursuit of a new contract has now spilled over into the Dallas Cowboys' mandatory minicamp. According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, Lamb has not been seen in Dallas for the start of the mandatory sessions, confirmed by Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy.
Lamb, who previously skipped voluntary workouts, is now avoiding the only mandatory portion of the offseason program. Although players typically face fines for missing mandatory minicamp, Lamb's situation is unique. Playing under the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, which guarantees him $17.991 million, Lamb could see these fines waived, similar to what happened with Nick Bosa in San Francisco last year.
Contrasting Lamb's absence, star pass rusher Micah Parsons, who is also eligible for a contract extension, attended Tuesday’s workouts. McCarthy noted Parsons’ presence at the facility, highlighting the different approaches taken by two of the team’s key players.
The framework for Lamb’s potential extension became clearer after Justin Jefferson secured a four-year, $140 million deal this week. This development aligns with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' previous comments about waiting to address extensions until "more leaves fall." For Lamb, that significant "leaf" fell on Monday with Jefferson's deal.
Despite the minicamp holdout, the Cowboys are likely unconcerned about Lamb’s production being affected. Lamb has maintained his fitness independently and even participated in some training sessions with quarterback Dak Prescott away from the team's facilities.
The next critical period for the Cowboys and Lamb will be the training camp in mid-July. If no agreement is reached by then and Lamb continues to hold out, tensions may rise, especially given Lamb's crucial role in the Cowboys' offense.
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