The Dallas Cowboys are sweating more than a longhorn in a Texas heatwave. As Week 1 approaches faster than a Dak Prescott scramble, the absence of star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is giving Jerry Jones and company a case of the yips.

Cowboys insider Dave Helman didn’t sugarcoat it on the “SPEAK” YouTube show today. “Of course he’s frustrated, and of course, this matters a lot because CeeDee Lamb is the Dallas Cowboys’ offense,” Helman said, cutting through the PR fog like a hot knife through butter. “Last year, there wasn’t a lot in the way of depth behind him. They need him there.”

Let’s crunch some numbers, shall we? Lamb isn’t just good; he’s “break the bank” good. In 2023, he led the league with 135 receptions, amassed 1,749 receiving yards, and snagged 12 touchdowns. That’s not just catching passes; that’s rewriting the record books.

But Jerry Jones, ever the showman, is playing it nippier than the other side of the pillow. “I’m not worried about a target date. I’m not worried about a deadline,” Jones told reporters before the preseason game against the Raiders. It’s a tune Cowboys fans have heard before, reminiscent of the great Ezekiel Elliott holdout of 2019. Remember “Zeke who?” Yeah, that aged about as well as milk in the Texas sun.

The clock is ticking faster than a two-minute drill. As Helman put it, “When you’re talking about potentially becoming the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league… we’ve kind of been following this playbook for three months at this point.” It’s like watching a rerun of “As the Star Turns,” and Cowboys fans are on the edge of their seats.

But here’s where it gets interesting. ESPN’s Jeff Darlington dropped a bombshell on Get Up, saying, “It really doesn’t feel like they’ve gotten to a point where they know the annual salary, where they know the contract length, where they know the real structure of the contract where it becomes guaranteed money.” This isn’t just a negotiation; it’s a high-stakes poker game with millions on the table.

Is Zeke’s cabo gambit a blueprint for CeeDee Lamb’s holdout?

Speaking of Zeke, his 2019 holdout might just be the playbook Lamb is following. Elliott’s 40-day Cabo getaway ended with a $90 million payday and $50 million guaranteed. Not too shabby for a beach vacation, huh?

James Jones, former NFL wide receiver, is firmly in Lamb’s corner. “CeeDee Lamb is not in this building. CeeDee Lamb is letting you know, if I do not have a contract, I am not playing in the Dallas Cowboys uniform this season,” Jones said, laying it out plain as day. He didn’t stop there, adding, “Jerry’s running out of time. Like, for real, like, this don’t even make sense. It don’t even make no sense with what Jerry’s talking about.”

But here’s where it gets juicier than a Texas brisket. Jones dropped a bombshell that could explain Lamb’s strategy: “If CeeDee Lamb and Dak were both in camp and they’re both there, you get the quarterback done first.” It’s not just about the money; it’s about timing and leverage in a high-stakes game of contract chicken.

Elliott offered some veteran insight during the training camp. “It’s really tough, because you go through your first three to four years and you guys are on the same side,” he explained. “This is the first time that now you’re kind of going against each other. So you got to have a little thick skin… but at the end of the day, we all have the same goal and we all support CeeDee.”

But let’s not forget what Zeke brings to the table. As offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer put it, “Not all running backs have that much football brainpower. [Elliott] sees the game like a quarterback. He sees the big picture, which is really cool.” In a world where the Cowboys’ red zone efficiency dropped from a league-leading 71.43% in 2022 to 56.34% in 2023, Elliott’s nose for the end zone could be just what the doctor ordered.

Quarterback Dak Prescott seems to be Team CeeDee all the way. “He’s wanting to get back, ready to get back, hoping this thing gets done for him. I know I am as well,” Prescott told reporters early this month, contradicting Jerry Jones’s “no urgency” stance faster than a Tony Romo audible.

As for Lamb’s cryptic Spider-Man post? Well, as Helman said, “It definitely matters. I’m definitely in CeeDee Lamb’s corner. This doesn’t really move me a whole lot, though, because we’ve kind of been following this playbook for three months at this point.” But let’s not forget, that Lamb’s post could be interpreted as him being ready to be the “bad guy” to exert more pressure on the Cowboys.

The ball’s in Jerry’s court now. Will he fumble it like a rookie in his first playoff game, or will he score a touchdown that keeps both Lamb and the fans happy? As Helman predicts, “If he’s not there by September 2nd, like the week that the game plan starts going in… I think a deal will get done.” One thing’s for sure – in Dallas, contract drama is as much a part of the tradition as the star on the helmet.