The Dallas Cowboys‘ star receiver CeeDee Lamb isn’t buying what Jerry Jones is selling. When the team’s outspoken owner claimed there was “no urgency” to sign Lamb to a contract extension last week, the All-Pro wideout fired back with a cryptic “lol” on social media. This exchange set the stage for a high-stakes poker game between the Cowboys’ brass and their most electric offensive weapon.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Clarence E. Hill Jr. offered insight into the Cowboys’ negotiating history on The Rich Eisen Show today, predicting a Justin Jefferson-level contract for Lamb. “Certainly Ceedee wants that Jefferson, Justin Jefferson deal and be in that ballpark. He deserves that, and that’s what we’re looking at,” Hill stated. This would put Lamb in line for a deal similar to Jefferson’s recent four-year, $140 million contract with the Vikings, making him one of the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in NFL history.

Lamb is coming off a career year, leading the league with 135 receptions and finishing second in receiving yards with 1,749. His production and importance to the Cowboys’ offense are undeniable. When compared to Jefferson’s stats over their first four seasons, Lamb holds his own with 395 receptions, 5,145 receiving yards, and 35 total touchdowns.

Last season alone, he led the  League in receptions with 135 while finishing second in receiving yards among all receivers with 1,749 receiving yards. Concerning Jefferson’s numbers over their respective opening four seasons in football, lamb looks better with more than two-thirds of these figures at 395 receptions, 5,145 receiving yards, and 35 touchdowns.

Meanwhile, Jones’ comments during a press conference at the team’s training camp sent shockwaves through Cowboys Nation. The owner, known for his colorful remarks, stated, “I don’t know why I said it. I don’t have a sense of urgency about getting it done. Put any reason you want. I was at Nobu two days ago. Give that as the reason.” This cavalier attitude has only intensified the spotlight on the ongoing negotiations and stirred an intentional controversy.

Lamb got his “digital side eye” though. At 24, he is in the final year of his initial contract as a rookie and has been a no-show at Cowboy’s mandatory minicamp and preseason activities. If an agreement is not reached soon, the holdout could extend into the regular season leading to him paying up to $40,000 per day in fines.

Hill emphasized the Cowboys’ track record in these situations: “The Cowboys have never lost anybody they wanted to keep. There’s never lost any high draft pick that they came up for new contract. They’ve all signed new deals. Now it hasn’t been easy, it’s been a negotiation, it’s been the art of negotiating the process.” This begs the question now whether Jerry Jones will somehow bring out a similar move out of his magician hat or will the ‘intentional’ move miss its mark.

Is Jerry Jones’s juggling act genius or a gamble?

Jerry Jones is no stranger to stirring the pot. His recent comments about Lamb’s contract situation might be another example of the owner’s shrewd negotiating tactics. By publicly downplaying the urgency to sign Lamb, Jones could be attempting to gain leverage in what promises to be a high-stakes negotiation.

However, this approach comes with risks. Lamb’s “lol” response hints at potential frustration, and a prolonged holdout could impact the team’s performance on the field. The Cowboys are already facing a crucial season, with head coach Mike McCarthy and 30-something players in the final year of their contracts.

Nonetheless, this approach presents some danger. Hill drew parallels to a previous contract standoff, saying, “Certainly Jerry Jones had his ‘Zeke who’ moment over the last week.” This refers to Jones’ infamous 2019 quip during Ezekiel Elliott‘s contract holdout. That situation was ultimately resolved with Elliott signing a massive six-year, $90 million extension just days before the season opener.

The stakes are high for both sides.  Jones attempted to clarify his stance on Sunday, saying, “Now I understand completely the angst that’s happening when you’re anxious about and someone says anything about whether you’re missed or not. Well, CeeDee, you’re missed, OK?” But he added, “You’re not missed out here competing and it doesn’t put any pressure any place on us.”

As the situation unfolds, all eyes will be on Jerry Jones and the Cowboys front office. With the team’s 2024 Top 51 salary cap space at just $9,275,907, fitting in a potential $35 million per year contract for Lamb will require some financial gymnastics. The Cowboys must also consider future deals for quarterback Dak Prescott and defensive star Micah Parsons.

According to Ezekiel Elliott, who faced a similar situation in 2019: “It’s really tough, because you go through your first three to four years and you guys are on the same side. This is the first time that now you’re kind of going against each other. So you got to have a little thick skin.

So what will be the result of the Cowboys’ hard stance? Since we are just weeks away from the regular season and the September 8th opening game with the Cleveland Browns beckoning, both sides need to work out their differences fast and get Lamb back in play where he belongs.