Cowboys news: Tony Pollard “ahead of schedule” in recovery, CeeDee Lamb not distracted by contract talks

Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb not ‘distracted’ by potential extension: ‘Just all about coming in and showing my worth’ - CBS Sports, Garrett Podell

Lamb knows that success on the field will cure all contract woes.

The 2023 season will be career defining for CeeDee Lamb, the Dallas Cowboys’ 24-year-old top receiver. He has a trustworthy sidekick for the first time in his role as the team’s top receiver, thanks to the offseason trade acquisition of Brandin Cooks, and it couldn’t come at a better time for Dallas’ latest No. 88 as he is eligible for a second contract for the first time in his career ahead of his fourth NFL season.

Outside of wanting to have his financial future in a secure state, like many people in and outside of the football word, Lamb says he isn’t phased by this new stage of his career, especially since Cowboys COO and EVP Stephen Jones made it clear extensions for homegrown stars are in the works.

“I’m going to be 100 percent honest, I’m not even distracted,” Lamb said Thursday, via The Athletic. “The money, definitely worried about it. But it’s not nothing that’s really on my mind every day that I wake up or when I come to the building. I don’t really think about how much money am I gonna make. It’s really just all about coming in and showing my worth, and then let everything else handle itself.”

Tony Pollard Is ‘Faster’ Now, Ready for RB1 Crown - DallasCowboys.com, Patrik Walker

Pollard expects to be ready to go for training camp in July, as well as week one on Sep. 10.

FRISCO, Texas — The 2023 season will feature the complete unleashing of Tony Pollard. The former fourth-round pick is entering his fifth year in the NFL as the premier back for the Dallas Cowboys, following the team’s decision to part ways with former two-time rushing champ Ezekiel Elliott.

First things first, however, and that’s making sure he’s back to full health before things get underway in September, if not sooner — having suffered a broken leg in January.

“Right now, I’m feeling really good about where I am — a little bit ahead of schedule,” said Pollard at the end of OTAs. ”Being able to get out there for the walkthrough parts and to be out there with the team, get out there and get my feet wet. I’m not really limited at this point, it’s just [about] being smart with it. Just trying to work my way back in slowly and make sure I’m in tip-top shape so there’s not a fall-off.”

Ranking Cowboys free agency, draft decisions of 2023 - CowboysWire, K.D. Drummond

In-depth breakdown of offseason choices entering the summer.

Decisions, decisions, decisions. What is life but preparing to make choices and living through the consequences of them? That stands in the NFL as well. The Dallas Cowboys make draft picks and free agent signings, then watch how they unfold. They assign new contracts to players that have impacts on other moves they could have made and then shift goals based on the results.

This past offseason, the Cowboys’ biggest decision probably wasn’t on the field, but rather the sideline. Mutually parting ways with Kellen Moore, giving playcalling duties to head coach Mike McCarthy and retaining Dan Quinn as defensive coordinator probably will have more impact than any of the personnel decisions the club made. Yet still, the personnel decisions are front and center now that OTAs have kicked off.

Which moves were the best? Which leave something to be desired? Here’s a look at how we see each of 25 moves shaking out over the course of the 2023 season and beyond.

Cowboys’ Mike McCarthy on interest in adding WR DeAndre Hopkins: ‘I really like the look of our group’ - NFL.com, Eric Edholm

Ya’ll can put away the blue and white prayer beads for now.

Dallas Cowboys fans might not want to go out and buy custom DeAndre Hopkins jerseys just yet.

Mike McCarthy on Thursday was asked about the possibility of Dallas adding Hopkins, who is now a free agent, and while the Cowboys head coach didn’t shoot down the idea, he didn’t exactly embrace the question.

“I really like the look of our (wide receiver) group,” McCarthy told reporters. “The vertical speed is definitely — you know, we made some improvement there.”

McCarthy wasn’t tipping his hand, saying that “there’s nothing good that comes out of those answers” about players not currently on the Cowboys’ roster. But he was complimentary toward the five-time Pro Bowler.

The Cowboys are about to double their cap space. What can they do with it? - FOX News, David Helman

Likely too many major extensions looming on the horizon to expect a spending spree.

Nearly three months have passed since the Cowboys released Ezekiel Elliott, a necessary bookkeeping decision that couldn’t have been fun for the powers that be. But however much it might have hurt for Jerry Jones to cut a franchise favorite, the Cowboys’ owner and general manager is about to see the payoff.

Now, for the important part: what might the Cowboys do with it? Given that much spending power, it’s understandable to get ideas about big-name free agents, like newly available receiver DeAndre Hopkins, for instance.

The reality is likely to be a lot less interesting.

The Cowboys do have a lot of cap space. They also have quite a few expenditures heading their way. Trevon Diggs is entering the final year of his rookie contract, with eyes on a possible extension. Other noteworthy starters like Terence Steele, Jayron Kearse and Tyler Biadasz are also headed for free agency in 2024.

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