FRISCO, TX — It's a bit of a spoiler for you but, yes, Mike McCarthy is a happy man. For weeks in Oxnard, the Dallas Cowboys' head coach and offensive playcaller was without arguably the best wide receiver in the entire NFL, namely CeeDee Lamb, who was engaged in a holdout throughout training camp while he and the team negotiated a new contract extension.
That deal was finally agreed to Monday, one day prior to Dallas hosting "Cowboys Night" at The Star in Frisco to celebrate their return from Southern California, and just 13 days ahead of the regular season opener against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 8.
"I think, No. 1, is it's great to get the contract in place and to have him back," said McCarthy not long after the deal was agreed to by both sides. " … I was anticipating a sooner or later type of situation today, but it was good to get this done. I think we're all relieved."
McCarthy held firm the entire time that Lamb would return to the team soon and that, once he did, the Cowboys would ramp up the First-Team All-Pro wideout in practice.
That remains the plan heading into Labor Day weekend.
"The schedule that we have for the week, frankly, fits into a ramp-up mode," he said. "I don't feel like we have to do a whole lot of adjusting. Obviously, we're gonna have a plan for him."
What Lamb has been able to do since entering the league is excelsior on many fronts and literally historic on others, as McCarthy can readily.
"The talent has been extremely evident since this young man has stepped on a football field," said the Cowboys' head coach. "Not only does he play every position on the offensive perimeter, but he's also an exceptional returner, and he loves it. He loves being in the backfield and loves running the ball [as well]. He gives you that opportunity to not only take advantage of that schematically, but he's damn good at all of it."
Eyes will now inevitably shift to the ongoing negotiations with All-Pro quarterback Dak Prescott, one-half of one of the best QB-WR duos in the league, but the celebration can commence as it relates to finally getting a deal done with Lamb.
Having accounted for a hefty portion of the Cowboys' offensive production to this point, it was paramount that Lamb be available and, more importantly, ready physically for the flight to Cleveland to face the Browns.
And, now, there's little reason he shouldn't be.
That sound you hear, by the way, is probably McCarthy exhaling deeply, and profoundly.
