Jerry Jones has harsh opinion of how Cowboys stars handled contract negotiations

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones prides himself of letting no one get the best of him in any kind of negotiation, and that includes the contract talks he engaged in with star quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver CeeDee Lamb.

Lamb held out for most of training camp as he worked on getting a new deal, and though Prescott was at camp, he didn’t sign his new deal until hours before the team’s season opener Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.

Jones was criticized for dragging his feet on both deals, but as he recently told 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, he blames both of his star players for trying to play hardball with him, stating he shouldn’t be held responsible if either player got their feelings hurt in the process.

“I've never seen anybody get their feelings hurt enough that the money couldn't cure,” Jones said . “When you have a significant decision, or you have a significant event in your life, when it gets in the crosshairs where the parties are in agreement, if your goal is to get a deal done, nail it right there. Do not fool around. And it started happening for us.”

Lamb ultimately signed a four-year, $136 million contract ($34M per year) that made him the second-highest paid receiver in the NFL behind Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson ($35M per year).

Conversely, Prescott’s four-year, $240M deal makes him the highest-paid quarterback in the league. His $60M-per-year salary eclipsed Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow, Green Bay’s Jordan Love and Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, who all make $55M per season.

Prescott, Love and Lawrence all signed their deals this offseason.

“I will say this, any time that we've ever made players the highest-paid player — key players, such as Troy Aikman, the highest-paid player in the game — we've won Super Bowls,” Jones added.