Finally, the Dallas Cowboys no longer have to worry about superstar wide receiver CeeDee Lamb signed a four-year, $136 million contract extension with the team on Tuesday ($100 million of which is guaranteed), making him the second-highest-paid non-quarterback in NBA history.
But Ram Ravaged by an agent Tory Dandy after the deal was signed. Photo by Jane Slater for NFL Network.
“I was actually in Florida, working with some guys,” Lam says, “and all of a sudden I get a call from my agent. I was expecting it, but then he makes this little joke and takes it the other way and I get a little shaken up. He says, 'Everything went wrong.' And I'm like, 'What do you mean?' And he says, 'Yeah, they're only going to pay you $34.'” [million] After a year, I was like, 'Okay… I'm grateful.'”
Of course, $34 million is the average salary Lamb and Dundee were targeting throughout the holdout period, and the All-Pro wide receiver can now focus on preparing for Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns.
“It's awesome to have such a great home welcome,” Lamb said of returning to practice. “It's been worth the wait. I'm happy to be back here with these guys, timed and ready to go to Cleveland. It's been such a fulfilling moment. I can't even describe how blessed I am. I'm ready to go.”
While Lam and his colleagues ultimately got what they wanted, it wasn't an easy journey to get there.
CeeDee Lamb had to defend his position with the Cowboys.
Lamb acknowledged he had considered settling for $18 million in the final year of his rookie contract, but Dandy kept Lamb focused on the mission.
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“Yeah, but then my agent came in,” Lamb said, “so he's the best at what he does. I'd like to thank Tory for keeping me on my toes. He came in to see me like three times a week, how I was doing mentally, physically, how I was holding up.”
Lamb sat out for several months, training independently in Florida away from the team. The 25-year-old was fined for missing training camp and also dealt with the mental strain of being away from his teammates.
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones has been adamant throughout the process. Had a positive conversation Lamb spoke with The Athletic's John Machota on Tuesday.
“You're dealing with a lot of money. Be careful. Be careful. Look under the hood,” Jones told Lamb. “When you make a decision about what you have, to keep it, be smart. You don't have to be smart to make money. You can be talented. You can be driven. You don't have to be smart to make money, but you've got to be really smart to keep it. Really smart. If I can help a player keep it at all, leave it to the coaches.”