The Cowboys were expected to be one of the top NFC contenders this season, but they have gotten off to a tepid 3-2 start. While a win is a win in the NFL, the injuries are mounting, the offense isn’t playing its best, and tensions are clearly rising.
Dallas invested in quarterback Dak Prescott this offseason, making him the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history ahead of the team’s Week 1 game against Cleveland. Dallas was at a fight-or-flight point with Prescott, and now that he got paid, expectations are even higher for him.
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The Cowboys are not playing up to their potential right now, and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb — who also received a massive contract extension this offseason — has taken notice. He’s tried to hold his quarterback accountable in his eyes, and this has resulted in two heated sideline arguments between the tandem.
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Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb sideline arguments
Week 3 vs. Ravens
The first outburst came in Week 3 when the Cowboys were taking on the Ravens. When the first half ended, Dallas was down 21-6. Near the end of the first half, the Ravens held the Cowboys to field goal, but the decision-making clearly got to Lamb.
Cameras caught Lamb animatedly saying something to Prescott. While we don’t know what he says, one part looks a lot like “throw me the f— ball.” Lamb’s frustrations were also likely heightened by his own poor play in the first half, as he had a costly red-zone fumble.
Still, the outburst looked bad. Lamb took accountability and apologized for it later. Here is what he said about the situation.
“Just being a professional about this whole situation. Understanding it’s a long game. 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 kind of let the game get to my head a little bit. But in the same sense, I know what I can do. I know 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.”
Lamb specifically spoke on the relationship that he has with his quarterback.
“Our relationship, if anything, [has] gotten stronger. Don’t let what’s out there fool you. We’re brothers to the end. We know that we all we got, and I tip my hat off to him. I got the utmost respect for him, and I look at him as a brother. So, with that being said, everything is going to come out: the energy, the passion, the love, the fight. You going to make up in the end.”
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Week 5 vs. Steelers
The energy, passion, and fight certainly came out again in Week 5 against the Steelers. It was another first-half dispute that came right before halftime. Prescott tried to find Lamb in the end zone, but he underthrew him and the ball went right to Pittsburgh defender Donte Jackson.
Lamb was clearly mad, and he said something to Prescott on the sidelines. This time, Prescott was shown locked into his tablet where he was watching the replay of the interception. Viewers believe that part of the message was “subpar throw.” Announcers Cris Collinsworth and Mike Tirico seemed equally as concerned by Prescott’s lack of a reaction.
Prescott, Lamb, and coach Mike McCarthy have been mostly quiet about the latest dust-up, but that certainly won’t stop Dallas and national media from talking about the apparent discord for as long as the Cowboys remain inconsistent.