Not many people had an Energizer bunny reference in mind when it came to CeeDee Lamb’s absence from the Cowboys, but it has kept going and going and going. Dallas’ top receiver continues to hold out from the club, and with their final exhibition game of the season scheduled for Saturday, has completely missed out on every team activity since the club was eliminated from the playoffs in the wild-card round against Green Bay.
He had nine catches for 110 yards in that game, but hasn’t been with the club since they had their exit interviews. He didn’t report to the club’s voluntary OTAs, mandatory minicamps or super-mandatory training camp in an effort to get a new contract. Throughout the process Jerry Jones has attempted to put public pressure on him through media responses and though that has swayed some fans who align themselves with management over labor, Lamb continues to stand his ground.
Placed on the Reserved/Did Not Report list in early August, Lamb isn’t currently taking up space on the Cowboys’ roster. And because he’s missed events he’s under contract to attend, he’s been fined a ridiculous amount of money. As of Saturday that total will be just under $3.8 million.
Here’s how it got to be so much, so quick.
Lamb, and every NFL player, is subject to escalating fines per day of mandatory minicamp, and those totaled just over $101,000. Once training camp began, he is being fined $40,000 for each mandatory activity, which to this point is 10 practices, with Thursday’s scrimmage and Friday’s practice making it 12.
There had been some misreports that fifth-year option players, of which Lamb is one, are subject to the second-contract amounts of $50,000 per day, but that is not correct. There’s simply a section in the CBA dedicated to fifth-year players for all contract circumstances, and the fine amounts are outlined there, but are the same as all other players under the provisions of their rookie contracts.
This is detailed in 2020 CBA, Article 7, Section 7(h), which reads (important parts in bold):
(h) Breach.
(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article 42 or Article 4, after the Club has exercised its Fifth-Year Option for any player selected in the first 45 round of the 2016 or any subsequent Draft, any unexcused late reporting to or absence from preseason training camp by a player in the fifth League Year of his contract (the option year) shall subject the player to a fine of $40,000 per day for the 2020-2025 League Years and $45,000 per day for the 2026-2030 League Years, plus one week’s regular season salary for each preseason game missed. For purposes of this Subsection, Preseason Training Camp shall be defined as the period beginning with the mandatory reporting date for that player through the Sunday immediately preceding the first game of the NFL regular season. For the sake of clarity and the avoidance of doubt, the Progressive Discipline requirement set forth in Article 42, Section 1(a) shall not apply to any fine under this Subsection.
The last highlight, “plus one week’s regular season salary for each preseason game missed” is what has been taking place since the exhibition opener against the Rams, and which will become a three-time event once he’s not on the field against the Chargers.
Under Lamb’s fifth-year option, which is right-sized as a one-time original Pro Bowl roster member (replacement nominations don’t count), his 2024 is $17,991,000.
That is scheduled as 18 equal payments (17 games plus the by week) of $999,500.
Game fine: $2,986,500
17 missed practices: $680,000
Minicamp fines: $101,716
Making his total fines as of Sunday’s game, $3,768,216.
If the two camp practices at The Ford Center next week are included in the calculation and Lamb remains AWOL, add another $80,000 to the total.
There could be a way out of the fines, or at least some of it. CBS correspondent and former agent Joel Corry points out rookies who hold out are an exception to the rule. The NFL now forbids teams from forgiving fines for the players; in fact fines are executed by the league now to remove this from team hands. But rookies can negotiate lowering or dismissal of some of their fines when a new contract is negotiated.
If Lamb’s holdout continues into the regular season, he will be lose $999,500 in game checks each week he misses. The club can continue to fine him for missed practices and games, per CBA guidelines. If he stays away from the team for the first six weeks of the season, things get even more interesting.
NFL contracts toll at that point, meaning the parameters of his 2024 option would be in place for the 2025 season. If he and the club worked out an agreement at that point, then the current contract goes away, but if not, the team retains his rights. They could hold him to the deal, trade him to another team or release him, with the latter option not being a feasible one.
Even if he reported, whether it be Week 7 or Week 17, his contract still tolls to 2025.