FRISCO, Texas – Dallas Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb is staying away from mandatory minicamp as the All-Pro seeks a new contract, while star pass rusher Micah Parsons is practicing after skipping most of the voluntary offseason work.
Lamb's absence at the start of the three-day minicamp Tuesday came a day after Minnesota's Justin Jefferson agreed to the richest non-quarterback contract in NFL history.
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The Vikings' star receiver is getting $110 million guaranteed in a four-year deal that pays $88 million up front and could be worth as much as $140 million.
Lamb and Jefferson were drafted in the first round in 2020, which means both are entering the final year of their rookie contracts.
The average per year on Jefferson's new deal is $35 million, almost twice the $18 million Lamb is due coming off a career year on a team that has made the playoffs for three consecutive seasons.
The absence of Parsons during the voluntary portion of the offseason was a bigger deal for Dallas because new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has replaced Dan Quinn, who was hired as coach in Washington.
There won't be as many changes on offense in the second year of coach Mike McCarthy calling plays for quarterback Dak Prescott. In the first year of that arrangement, Lamb had career highs with an NFL-leading 135 catches for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns.
"He's in a business situation,” McCarthy said. “I have no qualms as far as our vets being ready. They've been engaged, and we'll be in a great spot.”
Parsons spent time with Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud in China and jumped in the ring with a sumo wrestler in Tokyo.
The 2021 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year has been courtside for several games during the Dallas Mavericks' run to the NBA Finals, which start Thursday night in Boston.
Parsons has been away from the team during the voluntary part of the offseason before, and spent some time with McCarthy before minicamp. He's still waiting for his first sit-down with Zimmer, and said he's looking forward to it.
“I'm just looking at it as time for body to heal,” said Parsons, who is a year away from entering the final season of his rookie contract. “I'm an undersized rusher who gets banged up every year. I'm just letting my body heal and getting ready for the year.”
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