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Drama is not just something that happens with the Cleveland Browns or the AFC North. While the Cincinnati Bengals deal with WR Tee Higgins and DE Trey Hendrickson seeking new contracts after trade requests, the Dallas Cowboys have even more contract-related issues heading into the season where they will face the Browns in Week 1.
QB Dak Prescott, OLB/DE Micah Parsons and WR CeeDee Lamb are all seeking new deals. Prescott and Lamb are in the final years of their contracts while Parsons has his rookie contract fifth-year option in 2025.
Parsons has skipped all voluntary activities this offseason but Lamb is reportedly taking things to another level by skipping the mandatory minicamp that opens today:
Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb is not at meetings this morning, as he skips mandatory minicamp while awaiting a new contract, a person familiar with situation said. He is subject to be fined $16,953 for missing today, $33,908 for Wednesday and $50,855 if minicamp extends to a third day.…
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) June 4, 2024
Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy may have a stronger reaction to Lamb’s absence than he did to Parsons’:
Micah Parsons is not at OTAs today. Mike McCarthy doesn't seem happy about it
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) May 30, 2024
As noted by my colleague J.P. Acosta, Dallas is playing a dangerous waiting game with their star players:
Yet, it just seems like Dallas doesn’t want to pay these guys. They’re a reactive team, waiting to see how the league shapes out before doling out contracts. They did it with Prescott in 2019, placing him on the franchise tag which put him at the highest cap hit in the NFL at the time. This inactivity is nothing new for Cowboys fans; the 2024 off-season has been marked by it. But their reluctance to be proactive and give Dak his contract not only could see them lose out on Prescott, but it forces them to hold off on deals for Lamb and Parsons as well.
It will be interesting for Cleveland to watch how things unfold in Big D in advance of Week 1. All three, especially Prescott, are likely to be ready to go but Lamb and Parsons may delay participation even in Training Camp as we’ve seen from TJ Watt and Nick Bosa the last two seasons.
For now, Lamb will just be fined for not attending a mandatory minicamp. If things linger into late July and early August, there could be a huge impact on Browns vs Cowboys in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season.
Do you think Lamb, Parsons or Prescott will “hold in” during training camp in an attempt to get a new contract?
As always, our comment section is open below to discuss
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