CeeDee Lamb is off to a slow start in 2024 after a career season in which he led the NFL in receptions.
As are his Dallas Cowboys, who followed up a blowout loss in Week 2 to the New Orleans Saints with another loss at home to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday to fall to 1-2.
Lamb’s limited production on Sunday raised eyebrows. He finished the game with four catches for 67 yards. He caught just one pass for nine yards on six targets from Dak Prescott after halftime as the Cowboys played from behind a 28-6 deficit. He also drew a false-start penalty and failed to connect with Prescott on a late two-point conversion attempt.
But it was perhaps his visible frustration on the sideline that drew more attention. Lamb was seen arguing with Prescott and coaches on the sideline and slamming his hands on the turf while he was on the field.
Lamb declined to speak with media after the game, raising more questions about the state of the Cowboys and their All-Pro wide receiver.
Lamb addresses play, sideline spats
On Tuesday, Lamb returned to his media obligations and told reporters that he “failed myself” on Sunday.
“Just being a professional — being a professional about this whole situation, understanding it’s a long game,” Lamb said. “But as for me and my performance, I expect a lot out of myself — more than anyone could put on me. And quite honestly, I failed myself.
“And obviously, I failed the team just as far as producing and being that game-breaker player for the team and obviously the guy that they can lean on. And yeah, I kinda let the game get to my head a little bit. But in the same sense, I knew what I can do, I knew what I bring to the table and I know what I can do on that field. So with that being said, going forward, there shall be a difference.”
CeeDee Lamb acknowledged of Sunday’s loss to the Ravens: “I kinda let the game get to my head a little bit.” (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Lamb was then asked to clarify if his frustrations are with himself.
“Absolutely, absolutely myself,” Lamb continued. “And then like my ability to contribute to the offense, knowing what I can do. So, that played a huge part.
“And once again, can’t blame nobody. You gotta start with the man in the mirror. And I’m a huge believer in that, and watching that game kinda pissed me off. But I did that. You know what I’m saying? I can’t get mad at nobody else. So, with that being said, I’ve learned.”
Is offseason holdout hindering Lamb’s production?
Lamb tallied a league-best 135 catches last season, finished second in the NFL with 1,749 receiving yards and third with 12 receiving touchdowns. He added 113 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. It was a career year that earned Lamb his first first-team All-Pro selection.
He followed the effort up with a holdout that ultimately yielded a four-year, $136 million contract extension with $100 million in guarantees. Lamb missed all of preseason and training camp in the process.
In three games this season, Lamb has 13 catches for 218 yards and a single touchdown, well off his 2023 pace. His slow start and missed connections with Prescott have raised questions about a correlation to his holdout.
CeeDee LambWR – DAL – #882024 – 2025 season13Rec24Targets218Yds72.7Y/G1TD
On Tuesday, he was asked if not being with the team all summer is contributing to his stunted performance.
“Ain’t no excuse for that,” Lamb responded. “I’ve played football my whole life. I know better.”
Lamb’s chance to turn the corner comes quick. The Cowboys next face the New York Giants under the prime-time lights of “Thursday Night Football,” where the eyes of the NFL world will be focused.
- Terms/Privacy Policy
- Privacy Dashboard
- About Our Ads
Aaron Rodgers takes shot at Haason Reddick’s agent over anonymous quote about the Jets being in ‘disarray’It’s unclear if anyone from Reddick’s camp was even behind the quote, which claimed the ‘vibe’ inside the Jets locker room was ‘terrible’
ryan youngStaff writerWed, Sep 25, 2024, 6:13 AM GMT+7·2 min read75New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers didn’t actually read the article he’s referring to, but he took a shot at teammate Haason Reddick and his former agent on Tuesday.
Rodgers, speaking on ESPN on Tuesday, was asked about a report from The Athletic last month that said the Jets’ locker room was in “complete disarray” ahead of the season based, in part, on how they handled him.
That quote, Rodgers speculated, came from Haason Reddick’s camp.
Warning: The following video contains language that is NSFW.
“I would say the culture is about the opposite of what that article said,” Rodgers said. “I didn’t read the article, but just reading that headline there, it sounds like it was written by Haason Reddick’s agent, or former agent I guess, possibly, with the way they’re trying to disparage our great organization.”
Reddick was acquired by the Jets in a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. He’s yet to play with the team amid a contract dispute that is still going on heading into Week 4 of the season.
Rodgers returned to the field this fall after the Achilles injury he sustained just four plays into his debut with the team last season. Rodgers skipped mandatory minicamp for a trip to Egypt, which the Jets fined him for. He blamed that on a scheduling issue. That trip was part of the anonymous quote that The Athletic used for its preseason story on every team in the league.
“There is complete disarray over there. Look at how they’ve handled Aaron Rodgers,” the quote said. “Has one player had more power than him? He skipped minicamp. They have been unable to convert him into a team player. The vibe inside the building is terrible.”
While Rodgers said he didn’t read the story, and it’s unclear if the quote came from Reddick’s camp, taking a swipe at a current teammate publicly like that is unusual.
Aaron RodgersQB – NYJ – #82024 – 2025 season624Yds208Y/G67.4Comp Pct5TD103.1QBRatRodgers went 27-of-35 for 281 yards and threw two touchdowns in New York’s 24-3 win over the New England Patriots last week, which pushed the Jets to 2-1 on the season. He has thrown for 624 yards and five touchdowns and completed better than 67% of his passes through three games.Rodgers and the Jets will host the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
- Terms/Privacy Policy
- Privacy Dashboard
- About Our Ads
Mike McDaniel has seen “progress” with Odell Beckham Jr.ProFootball Talk on NBC SportsWed, Sep 25, 2024, 10:26 AM GMT+7·1 min read1The biggest challenge currently facing the 1-2 Dolphins relates to the quarterback position. After Monday night’s Week 4 game against the Titans, the window opens to getting some help for whoever is throwing the passes.
Receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list, is eligible to join the active roster as of Tuesday.
“I’ve seen some good progress, and I’m optimistic for when his window opens up and we will see how his body responds,” coach Mike McDaniel told reporters on Tuesday. “I do know there’s been some very intentional good work and that he hasn’t had the setbacks that we’ve made sure to avoid.”
Beckham participated sparingly in offseason workouts, before starting camp on PUP. His specific injury still isn’t known.
Whether and to what extent he’ll make a difference in the offense remains to be seen. Again, the bigger issue is at quarterback. If OBJ still has gas in the tank, however, it could make the quarterback’s job easier — whoever it might be.
- Terms/Privacy Policy
- Privacy Dashboard
- About Our Ads
We, among others, believe that Jerry is not telling the truth. The Cowboys could have afforded Henry, they just didn’t want to.
The issue came up during his Tuesday appearance on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. And Jerry shut it down.
Here was the question: “Jerry, you said after the game that Derrick Henry — you guys basically just couldn’t afford him. He’s a guy this year —”
“That’s correct,” Jones said, interrupting the host. “That is very correct. Stop right there. That’s very correct. Part of what you would’ve paid him is going to players we paid in the past, and part of what you would have paid him is going forward in the future. But had I thought that that position this year was gonna make that kind of difference, and that’s what you save your bucks for. But it’s too complicated to point to a player. There’s too much at stake when you look at the entire offense and you look at what we’re doing and what we’re trying to do with the run game as opposed to the passing game. That’s too complicated to dwell on the fact that we don’t have a given player on the team.”
He can say, or not say, whatever he wants. (And he routinely does.) The truth is that the Cowboys could have afforded Henry, if they wanted to. They surely had a reason for not pursuing him. Cash and/or cap space wasn’t it.
They made a decision not to try to sign him. They were wrong. It’s OK to just say that. Especially when everyone knows it.
