“CeeDee, you’re missed, OK?” Jerry Jones’ words echo through the empty locker where the Cowboys‘ star receiver should be. But in the high-stakes poker game of NFL contracts, sometimes the house wins even when it looks like it’s losing.

As CeeDee Lamb‘s holdout stretches on like a Texas summer, the Dallas Cowboys have stumbled upon a $17 million pot of gold at the end of a very unexpected rainbow.

This financial touchdown comes because of the courtesy of Lamb’s absence. His $17 million cap hit has vanished faster than a tumbleweed in a tornado, boosting the Cowboys from their original $11 million in cap space to a whopping $29 (round figure) million!

Jerry Jones, ever the Showman, initially played it cool. When asked about the urgency to sign Lamb earlier this week, he quipped, “I don’t know why I said it. I don’t know. 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.” But Lamb’s “lol” response on social media suggested this comedy might be heading towards drama.

As the standoff continues, the Cowboys find themselves in an enviable position. They could match Justin Jefferson‘s record-breaking four-year, $140 million deal right now and still have $20 million left to play with. It’s a financial flexibility that has Cowboys fans dreaming bigger than a Texas-sized hat. However, the team’s finances are a complex puzzle. As Holmes points out, “We got a $55 million cap hit from Dak Prescott that we know for this year and we got 40 million of dead money next year if they decide they do not want to get them signed.”

How Lamb’s return could ignite Cowboys’ Super Bowl dreams

The unexpected cap windfall could be the secret sauce in the Cowboys’ championship recipe. With extra cash in their ten-gallon hat, Dallas has the ammunition to make moves that could shift the balance of power in the NFC faster than you can say “How ’bout them cowboys?”

Quarterback Dak Prescott, who’s no stranger to contract rodeos himself, is chomping at the bit for Lamb’s return. “He’s wanting to get back, ready to get back, hoping this thing gets done for him. I know I am as well,” Prescott shared to reporters, his words carrying more urgency than a two-minute drill.

The resolution of Lamb’s holdout could be the missing piece in the Cowboys’ Super Bowl puzzle. His return, coupled with the team’s newfound financial flexibility, has the potential to turbocharge an offense that already led the league in scoring last season. After all, Lamb caught a league-high 135 passes from Prescott last season for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns, proving his worth on the field.

The Cowboys have been in discussions with Lamb regarding an extension that would make him among the highest-paid receivers in the NFL. But the holdout comes at a cost. Lamb faces daily fines of $40,000 and could be fined nearly $1 million for missing preseason games. However, all fines are at the team’s discretion and can be rescinded.

History shows that holdouts can lead to golden endings. Just ask Emmitt Smith, who held out for two months in 1993, missed two games, then returned to lead the Cowboys to their second straight Super Bowl. Or John Riggins, who famously declared after his year-long holdout, “I’m bored, I’m broke, and I’m back,” only to become Super Bowl MVP a season later.

As the Cowboys navigate this high-stakes game of contract chicken, one thing is clear: in Jerry Jones’ world, even holdouts can turn into hidden treasures. The $17 million question now is: will this unexpected boost be the catalyst that finally ends Dallas’ 28-year championship drought?

Head coach Mike McCarthy remains optimistic as he stated on Friday: “We have all the confidence in the way he works that he’s going to come in here, ready to go. When that time comes, we’ll pick up like he never left.” The next chapter in this Texas-sized tale is yet to be written, but one thing’s for sure – it’ll be more dramatic than a last-second Hail Mary.