With no jersey numbers and hardly any camera time of the actual scrimmage, the Dallas Cowboys did their best to avoid giving anything away opponents could use against them in the near future. Sadly what was expected to be a fun televised event for fans around Cowboys Nation ended up being nothing more than a glorified podcast.
I fully expected to share some interesting tidbits from yesterday’s scrimmage, however, Mike McCarthy’s ability to keep things as close to the vest as possible all but put an end to that. I did however learn something new after sitting through nearly 3 hours of Michael Irvin’s rambling. He seems to think pretty highly of Cowboys rookie Wide Receiver CeeDee Lamb.
During the Dallas Cowboys televised “scrimmage”, Michael Irvin stated that CeeDee Lamb is “probably the most physically gifted 88 we [Cowboys] have had.” That’s some pretty high praise for someone who has never played a single snap in the NFL, especially considering the others who have donned the No. 88 jersey.
Let that sink in for just a little bit…
Drew Pearson, Michael Irvin, and Dez Bryant have all shared the honor of wearing No. 88 during their time with the Dallas Cowboys. There are very few jersey numbers that hold the kind of significance as the 88 does in Dallas. For CeeDee Lamb to be asked to shoulder the burden the jersey carries speaks volumes of his potential and even more so after what Michael Irvin said.
I really can’t think of any higher praise Michael Irvin could have given to the Dallas Cowboys 2020 1st-round draft pick. Just think of all the accolades the former 88’s accumulated throughout their careers and the kind of pressure that could put the rookie WR under. Here’s a reminder…
Drew Pearson (1973-1983)
- Super Bowl champion
- 3x Pro Bowl (1974, 1976, 1977)
- 3x First-team All-Pro (1974, 1976, 1977)
- Second-team All-Pro (1975)
- NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
- NFL receiving yards leader (1977)
- Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor
Michael Irvin (1988-1999)
- 3x Super Bowl champion
- 5x Pro Bowl (1991-1995)
- First-team All-Pro (1991)
- 2x Second-team All-Pro (1992-1993)
- NFL receiving yards leader (1991)
- NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
- Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor
Dez Bryant (2010-2017)
- 3x Pro Bowl (2013, 2014, 2016)
- First-team All-Pro (2014)
- NFL receiving touchdowns leader (2014)
Anyway you look at these accolades Drew Pearson, Michael Irvin, and Dez Bryant accumulated throughout their NFL careers is nothing but good. This is the standard for which CeeDee Lamb will be measured when all is said and done. Anything less than multiple Pro Bowl appearances and First-team All-Pro nominations would seem to be a disappointment.
Of course, Michael Irvin believes the former Oklahoma Sooner star WR is more than up to the task. For him to say CeeDee Lamb could be the most “physically gifted 88” the Dallas Cowboys have had is a testament to the expectations the Hall of Famer has for him. Hopefully the new No. 88 can shoulder such a burden and prove him right.
