“You’re missed.” That’s how fast Jerry Jones backtracked on his earlier stance. Just a week ago, when asked about WR CeeDee Lamb‘s contract extension, he casually brushed it off, saying, “I don’t have a sense of urgency about getting it done.” But now, with Lamb’s holdout making his $17 million cap hit disappear like a Houdini act in the heart of Texas, some folks are calling Jones crazy. Yet, maybe there’s a method to his madness. But not everyone’s buying it. Especially not former Dallas Cowboys star Chris Canty.

On August 12th, speaking on ESPN’s UnSportsManlike, Canty didn’t hold back, calling out Jones with a zinger. He said, “Jerry got more spin than a washing machine.” He wasn’t just talking for the sake of it; Canty pointed out the glaring inconsistency in Jones’ comments. “Hey Jerry, there’s no way you can make that right in the player’s eyes. You said what you said, you need to stand on business.” The 41-year-old ex-pro football player was not mincing his words. He saw right through the negotiating ploy and warned that Lamb’s absence could derail the Cowboys’ Super Bowl aspirations. After all, what’s an offense without its star wideout? A ship without a sail.

Canty’s main point: Without CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys’ offense feels lost. The reality? Dallas does lack an identity without their #88.“It’s just that Dak Prescott throwing into a bunch of jags. I mean no disrespect to the other skill-positioned players. But that’s the reality of it.” And there’s almost everything true about this statement.

For a team “all in” on a championship, as Jones claims, you need your key playmaker on the field, not on the sidelines. And while Brandin Cooks might bring veteran savvy, he simply doesn’t stack up to what Lamb delivers in his prime. So, without CeeDee, who’s stepping up? The silence is deafening, and that’s the kind of noise that could echo all season long.

In his fourth NFL season, Lamb is catching passes and turning heads. After a standout 2023 year, leading the league in receptions and setting career highs across the board, he has racked up his third consecutive Pro Bowl nod and his first All-Pro selection. Talk about a hat trick! With all this success, it’s no surprise Lamb is eyeing the big bucks.

And the 2020 first-round draft pick has made his stance crystal clear!  His absence from voluntary workouts, mandatory minicamp, and training camp speaks volumes. At 25, Lamb is due a cool $17.9 million in 2024 thanks to the fifth-year option of his rookie deal. Missing training camp? That’s his way of calling for a new contract.

But here’s the kicker. While critics like Canty have thrown shade, Dallas might just have found a silver lining in this offseason chaos.

CeeDee Lamb’s holdout pushes the Cowboys’ cap space!