The smartest take of the week comes from Cowboys star CeeDee Lamb, the receiver showing wisdom in not engaging in a potential verbal war with Troy Aikman, who unlike so many of his ESPN brothers is not prone to hyperbolic blabber.
FRISCO – Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman obviously struck a nerve with his recent comments about the modern-day team’s flaws in its receiving corps, using the words “lazy” and “terrible” to describe the CeeDee Lamb-led group.
And now every here inside The Star is taking a turn responding, in his own way … including Dak Prescott and Lamb himself.
First, on Monday, coach Mike McCarthy took a crack at it.
“They don’t carry any weight with me,” McCarthy said boldly, “because I watch all the tape, I get to go to the meetings, I’m at practice, I’m part of the games. So I have a clear understanding of what and where. Troy’s statement in particular, I don’t agree with the word selection.”
Indeed, “lazy” is a word no NFL player wants attached to his reputation. (Aikman was specifically talking about Lamb and others’ route-running.)
Troy, Dak and Lamb Stadium By Tony Fisher
By Tony Fisher
Next up came owner Jerry Jones, who not only suggested he sees Aikman’s point – “Boy, Troy knows football!” Jerry gushed – but also added some fuel to the fire by claiming McCarthy and staff are guilty of “bad play-design.”
And on Thursday, the designated day for both Prescott and Lamb to meet the media? Dak defended his guys, saying, “Whether (Aikman) got personal, whether he went too far, once again the guy gets paid to do that and he’s doing a job … a job he knows is going to create a ruckus. The last thing I’m allowed to do is allow it create division inside this building.”
(Worth noting: There will be no “divison” or rift between Aikman and Prescott; the former has been firm in his support of Dak, and they’ve forged a relationship that now continues on projects like serving as co-chairmen of the Children Cancer Fund.)
Maybe the smartest take of all, though, comes from Lamb. The All-Pro receiver showed wisdom in not engaging in a potential verbal war with Aikman, who unlike so many of his ESPN brothers is not prone to hyperbolic blabber.
Lamb responded to one question on the subject by saying, “Got to be better overall.”
And when faced with a follow-up query? Lamb answered, “Next question.”
There are stat facts that beg for improvement. Among Prescott’s top three wide receiver targets, the combined efforts of Lamb, Brandin Cooks and Jalen Tolbert are only good for an average target separation of 2.36 yards according to NFL’s Next Gen Stats.
The skill and ability of these receivers to create that space remains essential and defenses are keying in on Lamb more than ever this season. But in such situations it becomes the play-caller’s job to scheme open those players and make the offense run smoother. Oh, and for the receivers to run their routes with crispness, smarts and full effort.
So Lamb is right. He needs to be better. And so does the quarterback. And the coach. None of which makes Aikman wrong.
There is something to be said for guys “having each others’ backs.” It was KaVontae Turpin who said, “Troy whatever he fake-thinks he knows (from) outside the building, that’s his opinion. But in this we all in here together. We just trying to be better and do what we do to get a win.”
But there is nothing “fake” about Troy Aikman. And we give CeeDee Lamb his props for maybe just a little bit being willing to take the criticism constructively.