Dallas City News

CeeDee: Missing training camp “wasn’t pleasurable at all” – Nick Eatman, DallasCowboys.com

The Dallas Cowboys star wide receiver decided to hold out, hoping for a new deal, but he didn’t sound happy to be away from his teammates.

CeeDee Lamb was grinning ear to ear when he walked the halls of The Star on Tuesday, one day after agreeing to one of the biggest contracts in NFL history for a non-quarterback.

But the journey to get to his four-year extension worth $136 million wasn’t all fun for Lamb, who missed the entire training camp in Oxnard. In fact, Lamb said he made numerous calls to his agent wanting to end the holdout.

“It wasn’t pleasurable at all,” Lamb said of being away from his teammates. “I can count on my two hands how many times I told my agent I’m ready to be out there. I know he kind of got tired of hearing it.”

Lamb and his agent were able to negotiate long enough where the two sides came together on the life-changing deal, one that is still sinking in.

“Quite honestly, it’s still surreal to me,” Lamb said. “A great moment. Obviously I’m happy for myself and my family. I appreciate the Jones family. Shoutout to my agent for getting it done. It was long, it was a process, but we’re here now. I’m back home. I’m ready to score some more touchdowns, I know that.”

Lamb scored 14 last year – 12 receiving and two rushing – but the stats that were the most telling were the catches and yards. He set the franchise singles-season marks with 135 receptions for 1,749 yards.

Now, the question for Lamb is will he be ready once the season starts Sept. 8 in Cleveland.

Cowboys re-signing CeeDee Lamb creates new chance to reach deal with Dak Prescott as talks are ‘cordial’ – Garrett Podell, CBS Sports

Could Lamb’s new deal open the door to fast-tracking another one for Dak Prescott?

Now, it’s time for Jones and the Cowboys to turn their attention toward re-signing 2023 Second-Team All-Pro quarterback Dak Prescott, the 2023 NFL passing touchdowns leader with 36.

“Obviously you plan for Dak and you plan for CeeDee,” Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said, via Yahoo Sports, on Aug. 13. “The negotiations remain very cordial and everybody’s goal is to be a Cowboy in the future and come up with solutions to the challenges of their contracts come up with those solutions that make it to where one we can have all three [Prescott, Lamb and Micah Parsons] of them and two we can put a good team around them.”

Cowboys 53-man roster: What is the strongest position group? – Saad Yousuf, The Athletic

Yousuf runs through a list of strong positions that’s much longer than many are willing to admit before arriving at the strongest position group of the 2024 Cowboys.

The fascinating thing is that you can make a case for several positions for this distinction.

At quarterback, you have the MVP runner-up who is a top 10 quarterback in the regular season and had a great camp. His backup is 5-1 as a starter in the last three seasons when he’s been called into duty.

At wide receiver, with CeeDee Lamb officially back in the mix, you feel good about your top three guys in their respective slots. Jalen Brooks was one of the top camp performers and Ryan Flournoy had a solid camp and preseason, too.

On the offensive line, Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe emerged as the starters the Cowboys hoped they would be on draft day. Both had fantastic camps and earned their jobs, even though most on the outside had already given it to them. You also have a backup center in Brock Hoffman to feel pretty good about, as well as your top interior backup in T.J. Bass.

Defensive back would have been the choice if DaRon Bland hadn’t been shelved for six to eight weeks with an injury. Both set of safeties are solid and your starting trio of cornerbacks when Bland is included is top-notch. The top backups, Caelen Carson and Israel Mukuamu, had fantastic training camps.

If we’re being honest, the position that should get this label is the specialists. Brandon Aubrey is an elite kicker who converted a 66-yard field goal in the preseason. Bryan Anger is a reliable punter and C.J. Goodwin is a strong, consistent special teams ace.

But there can only be one choice, and the linebackers are a worthy selection. It was arguably the team’s biggest weakness last season and it has been overhauled. Of the five linebackers who made the roster, four did not play a single snap for the team in the regular season. Eric Kendricks is the leader of the group, and he arrived by way of free agency. DeMarvion Overshown is returning from his torn ACL last preseason and — if he can stay healthy — looks like a true force for the defense. Marist Liufau was everywhere in camp and had a great showing in the second preseason game. Buddy Johnson was steady all camp but really made his presence known in the preseason finale.

Chiefs Acquire Tight End Peyton Hendershot in Trade With Cowboys – Karl Rasmussen, SI.com

The Cowboys sent tight end Peyton Hendershot to the Kansas City Chiefs for a future draft pick.

The Cowboys had reportedly planned to waive Hendershot before they were able to find a trade partner in Kansas City.

Hendershot figures to compete for a role behind Travis Kelce as the Chiefs’ No. 2 tight end. He’ll join a position group currently consisting of Kelce, Noah Gray, Jared Wiley and Baylor Cupp.

In exchange for Hendershot, Dallas will receive a conditional late-round pick, Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reports. For his career, the tight end has 15 receptions, 141 yards and two touchdowns throughout 25 games.

2024 Cowboys Roster: Carl Lawson, Kemon Hall, 4 RBs included in roster trimming – Patrik Walker, Dallascowboys.com

A few notable players were a part of the Cowboys roster cuts.

The Cowboys also cut four running backs, including Malik Davis and Royce Freeman. By also waiving Nathaniel Peat and Snoop Connor, it leaves three running backs still on the roster in Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn.

All four of the released running backs could return to the practice squad if they clear waivers.

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For Lawson, it’s a different story, transactionally, seeing as he’s a vested veteran who is not subject to waivers (minimum of four accrued seasons). He’s set to again be a free agent after signing with the Cowboys roughly one week prior, and can immediately opt to join a different club. There was no guaranteed money involved in the initial signing, so there is no financial penalty for the Cowboys to make this move.

Lawson will have the option of joining the practice squad in Dallas, where he would have a chance to be elevated to the active roster, and that is also true of Kemon Hall, assuming he goes unclaimed. The talented young corner was claimed early in camp off of waivers from the San Francisco 49ers and went on to deliver a pick-six in the second preseason outing.

The NFL will allow teams to begin building their 16-man practice squad on Wednesday, August 28 at noon ET but, for the Cowboys, Denzel Daxon will likely receive an IPP exemption to become their 17th man on that unit.