In the aftermath of the Dallas Cowboys wildcard round loss, there have been a ton of quotes from players making sense of the upset, but All-Pro receiver CeeDee Lamb may have just said the most encouraging thing yet.
While on the Micah Parsons “The Edge” podcast, Lamb opened up about his thoughts on the loss, the state of the team, and specifically on his own leadership.
Lamb, on the topic of what he can do moving forward, said “First and foremost, I do got to grow up.”
He went on to discuss how he mishandled the opening portion of the Green Bay game, in which there seemed to be a problem brewing between Dak Prescott and Lamb.
Lamb said “There's plenty of ways for me to handle different situations. Me being mad is not the answer.”
While it is disappointing to hear there was an issue in the first place during the biggest game of the year, it is important to give Lamb credit for the accountability taken.
This has been one of the Cowboys' biggest problems: The failure to take accountability for just how disappointing they have been over the last thirty years.
The Accountability Problem
Complicity with failure is perhaps the biggest issue in Dallas, even more than coaching and player personnel issues.
Dating back to the Jason Garrett era and beyond, ownership has shown time and time again that being the hot topic in the NFL is more important than winning when it matters.
Head Coach Mike McCarthy being brought back for the 2024 season because he wins in the regular season is a perfect example of this.
Jerry Jones put out a statement that McCarthy will be back next season,
“Mike has the highest regular season winning percentage of any head coach in #Cowboys history and we will dedicate ourselves, in partnership with him, to translating that into reaching our post season goals.” pic.twitter.com/KEppeXdjck— Newy Scruggs (@newyscruggs) January 18, 2024
Every premature playoff loss comes with initial anger from the organization, and then the news that no significant changes will be made.
Parsons, in addition to Lamb, touched on the accountability problem, saying “We need to have more accountability. I just think we let things slide too often because we know we're good.”
While actions speak much louder than words here, considering how long Dallas has been plagued by these issues, it is refreshing to hear.
Earlier in the week on ESPN's First Take, veteran DeMarcus Lawrence blamed “fatigue” for the Cowboys playoff collapse.
While you can argue whether or not Lawrence was being honest in his answer, the difference between the fatigue excuse and what Lamb had to say is huge.
The team needs to be on the same page now and in season.
The differing messages, accountability from some and not from others, and the distractions have to be cut out.
If the organization wants to change things, it needs to be strictly business.
To do this, they need better leadership.
Lack of Leadership
Lamb and Parsons did not just mention the Cowboys' accountability issues, but also how the team lacked true leaders.
No single person is to blame here, it is a collective failure that the team as a whole needs to change.
Lamb mentioned this as well, saying “We have to have the leaders. I feel like that was the difference, and it showed. You got to step up. Everybody has to step up.”
Again, actions speak louder than words, but this seems to be something the Cowboys have ignored in recent years.
They lack true leaders, and that shows up when it counts.
While they too failed to win a Super Bowl, guys like Jason Witten and Sean Lee were genuine leaders; not afraid to point out problems and call guys out when needed.
These guys also led by example. They did not always have to yell or be the loudest voice in the room for the other guys to know who to follow and how to operate.
Dallas has guys that will fire up the team pre-game and get loud on the sidelines, but we simply do not see the deeper side of leadership all that often anymore.
If Lamb and Parsons are ready to take that step, like they are saying they are, other guys have to follow in their footsteps.
Two guys deciding to lead can't change a culture, the entire organization has to change the culture.
It Starts at the Top
Cowboys fans have all heard the “all-in” comments by Jerry Jones by now.
Jerry Jones said the Cowboys are going all in 2024…"We will be going all in. I would say that you will see us this coming year not build it for the future."
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) January 30, 2024
For a front office that refuses to change anything in the face of mediocrity, it is hard not to roll your eyes at the owner suddenly committing to being all-in.
Just like the comments from Lamb and Parsons, there has to be pressure on Jones to follow through on his words and not just wait until the next playoff loss to be “shocked and angry” once again.
It has been thirty years since the Cowboys were competitive; rosters have come and gone, coaches have as well, so at a certain point the one constant has to catch the blame.
That constant is Jones and the rest of the front office.
The players, coaches, and everybody else also deserve blame.
However, as long as we are going to hold Lamb, Parsons, Lawrence, and any other Cowboys player or coach to their words, we have to do the same with ownership.
