Cowboys’ stalemates with Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb overshadow training camp

The first day of football practice taking a back seat to contract speculation? Must be training camp with the Dallas Cowboys.

It's a common occurrence at camps all over the NFL, as players use their leverage to secure compensation before the start of a grueling season. It's particularly pressing in Oxnard, Calif., however, as the Cowboys are faced with financial circumstances that'd make even the most seasoned league executive sweat.

"We have a very unique situation," Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones said.

For starters, there's the pressing issue: Their best offensive player isn't at camp. CeeDee Lamb is this year's contractual holdout in Dallas, as he seeks to reap the rewards of being selected All-Pro in two consecutive seasons.

Off the strength of 337 catches and 3,108 yards in those last two years, Lamb is no doubt looking for a deal that will match or potentially exceed Justin Jefferson's four-year, $140 million extension from earlier this summer. That annual salary of $35 million or more would make Lamb the NFL's highest-paid non-quarterback.

If that wasn't interesting enough, Jones seemed to confirm Thursday morning that another young Cowboy — edge rusher Micah Parsons — is seeking to hit a similar benchmark in the near future.

"Both of them, rightfully so, believe they should be the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league," Jones said. "Totally respect that. So, a very difficult situation we're trying to work through with them."

Fortunately for the Cowboys, Parsons doesn't seem to be forcing the issue heading into his fourth season. The 25-year-old is at training camp and participating, as he seeks to build on his preposterous 40.5 sacks through his first three seasons.

"Obviously, Micah's a year