There is nothing wrong with assuming that Dallas Cowboys superstar receiver CeeDee Lamb is an unselfish player. But there is a lot wrong with concluding that Dallas’ “Blow It Up” contract move this week toward creating $100 million in 2025 cap room has anything to do with Lamb making a “sacrifice.” Jerry and Stephen Jones have written big checks to keep their own stars, most recently with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, with Micah Parsons next in line. They made a series of Tuesday moves, too, as they they signed Osa Odighizuwa to a four-year, $80 million deal structured in a way that will hit the 2025 cap at only about $6 milllion. Dallas also pulled the trigger on re-upping Brock Hoffman and Juanyeh Thomas, so it was a busy day indeed … with one more headline-grabbing move. The Cowboys, as first reported by CowboysCountry.com months ago, have built into Lamb’s contract a “switch to flip” that moves his money in a way that opens up $20 million in room. To repeat: As is the case with Dak Prescott’s contract (a switch-flip there will move his cap hit from $90 million to $50 million), this is built into Lamb’s deal. No “sacrifice” and no “asking,” no “negotiation” and no changes to the players’ total payday.
of misunderstanding … in part fueled by Lamb’s own reaction to the move. “I want to win,” he wrote in a post on X, answering a fan’s question about “why he would do this.” “It’s gonna take more than just myself.” And here come the headlines from media outlets that just don’t get it. To wit … “CeeDee Lamb Explains Why He Restructured Contract With Cowboys” Actually, all Lamb did here was create a controversy. He did not negotiate, he did not take less money, he did not “do this” because “I want to win.” He didn’t “do” anything. In 2024, the Joneses chose to not invest resources, opting instead to “keep our powder dry” for a quick and timely “Blow It Up” and remodel for 2025. And now 2025 is here. They made the Lamb move. They will sure make the Dak move. And when they do? Folks will wrongly think Dak “made an unselfish sacrifice,” too. Even though he will have done nothing of the sort.