FRISCO, Texas — CeeDee Lamb has discovered to embrace what No. 88 means in Dallas Cowboys’ historical past.
When the Cowboys chosen him within the first spherical in 2020, he initially wished to put on No. 10. Then he had a dialog with Michael Irvin, adopted by one other with Dez Bryant, earlier homeowners of No. 88. Lamb discovered extra about the usual set by Corridor of Famers Drew Pearson and Irvin, plus Bryant’s starry run in Dallas.
Over time, the vast receiver foursome has related on advertising and marketing offers and loved the camaraderie of a quantity as well-known as No. 12, No. 8, No. 22, No. 94 and No. 82 in workforce historical past.
With this new contract — 4 years, $136 million with a $38 million signing bonus — Lamb has an opportunity to be one of the best No. 88 of all of them.
Statistically, he’s on the best way.
His 395 receptions and 5,145 yards are essentially the most by a Cowboy in a participant’s first 4 seasons. As are his 18 100-yard video games. In 2023, Lamb broke Irvin’s data for catches and yards in a season, ending with 135 receptions for 1,749 yards. Irvin had 111 catches for 1,603 yards in 1995.
Lamb’s receptions and yards have elevated in every of his first 4 seasons. It is troublesome to think about him topping what he did in 2023 however he’s clearly the Cowboys’ No. 1 goal, and his potential to play throughout the formation separates him from different high NFL receivers.
Lamb turned 25 in April. The Cowboys imagine his finest days are forward. When Bryant signed his five-year, $70 million deal, he turned 27. Accidents had damage his explosiveness and he was launched by the Cowboys after the 2017 season.
Irvin was 33 when his profession ended with a neck harm, however he had a stretch of eight 1,000-yard seasons in a nine-year span, stopped solely due to a suspension. By then, Irvin had change into the heartbeat of a Cowboys workforce that received Tremendous Bowls for the 1992, 1993 and 1995 seasons.
Pearson, who calls himself The Unique 88, was undrafted however turned a member of the Nineteen Seventies all-decade workforce, successful two Tremendous Bowls. He was chosen for induction into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2021.
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What the entire No. 88s had in frequent was an unusual chemistry with their quarterback.
Pearson had it with Roger Staubach, and all it’s essential to bear in mind is the Hail Mary in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings within the 1975 playoffs. Irvin had it with Troy Aikman with their “Bang 8” route mixture, the envy of most quarterback-receiver duos at the moment. Bryant had it with Tony Romo, catching 56 of his 73 landing passes in Dallas from him.
And Lamb has it with Dak Prescott.
At the beginning of the 2023 season, Lamb famous he and Prescott had not performed a full season collectively.
In 2020, Prescott began solely 5 video games due to a fractured and dislocated proper ankle. In 2021, Prescott missed one recreation with a calf pressure and Lamb missed a recreation with a concussion. In 2022, Prescott missed 5 video games with a damaged thumb.
In 2023, they each performed each recreation and had a season for the ages.
