Cowboys owner tries to walk back comments on CeeDee Lamb's contract negotiations

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones created a self-inflicted mess for himself this week when he told the media he had no urgency to get a new contract done with superstar wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.

He attempted to clarify that comment and walked back on it a little bit on Sunday before the team's preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.

Jones attempted to explain his "urgency" comment by saying that even if Lamb were in camp and had a new contract extension he would not be playing in these games anyway and that the team already knows what he is capable of doing on the football field.

"The bottom line is, what it is is, no there’s not that urgency," Jones said. "Now I understand completely the angst that’s happening when you’re anxious and someone says anything about whether you’re missed or not. Well, CeeDee, you’re missed, OK? But you’re not missed out here competing, and it doesn’t put any pressure, anyplace on us. It’s not pressure out here today and in practice.”

What Jones is presumably trying to say here is that he is not under any pressure to get a deal done right this second because these games do not matter and they are still a month away from the real games taking place. It does make some degree of sense. But the reality is the two sides do not really seem to be close to a contract and Jones really seems to be playing hardball with not only one of his best players but also one of the best wide receivers in football.

If Lamb and the Cowboys get a deal done before the season all of this will be forgotten as soon as pen gets put to paper and Lamb takes the field and starts making big plays. Until then, however, every comment and perceived slight is going to be magnified. Jones found that out the hard way this week.