CeeDee Lamb is a happy man these days.

The Dallas Cowboys star wide receiver is only weeks removed from signing a four-year, $136 million contract which includes a $38 million signing bonus — a record for a wide receiver — and $100 million guaranteed. The contract was agreed upon shortly before the start of the season after Lamb had held out during the entirety of training camp.

The 25-year-old receiver explains that he was actually in Florida — he stayed in shape during his holdout in Fort Lauderdale — when he found out the news and that he was “ecstatic.”

“I was actually in Florida when I first found out and how did I feel? I was ecstatic,” says Lamb with a big smile on his face during a one-on-one interview. “It didn’t feel real. I think we posted a video on it with my reaction when I was on the phone with my agent. I couldn’t believe it. Once he told me, it was like finally, the deal is done. Now I can go play ball.”

Lamb is now the second-highest paid wide receiver in the NFL after he was originally due to earn just a shade under $18 million this season. Not only will he earn $34 million on an annual basis, he’s locked in with the Cowboys through the 2028 season.

The fifth-year receiver is all smiles after earning his big contract with huge production last season. Lamb posted an NFL-leading 135 catches with 1,749 receiving yards — both franchise records. The young receiver explains how it’s still a “surreal” feeling two weeks after he signed the contract.

“I’m just like, ‘Wait a minute, let’s enjoy this. Take a step back,’” says Lamb. “I just think about all the things that I’ve been through in my life and my family’s life and just continuing to grow as a man and be that pedestal for my brothers and my cousins and all my little ones that’s under me and obviously just being a leader to the community. It’s an amazing feeling. It’s so surreal.”

Although Lamb missed practicing with his teammates during training camp, he didn’t seem to miss a beat during the Cowboys’ season-opening win over the Cleveland Browns. Lamb posted a team-leading five receptions for 61 receiving yards in the 33-17 victory.

He explains that while his cardio isn’t up to his liking, he felt “amazing” during Week 1 and that his endurance will only go up the more reps and games he plays moving forward.

“I felt amazing,” says Lamb during his 2024 NFL season debut against the Browns. “Felt a bit of fatigue in the back end (of the game), but that’s where the difference is from training and playing football. I felt a slight step back, but as we go throughout these things and I get more practices, I’ll be back.”

Lamb reveals that he actually stayed in shape during his training camp absence while working out for three hours a day for three-to-five days a week. He says that he definitely missed the “camaraderie” with his teammates during training camp. The star receiver also says that he has yet to make any big purchases since signing his deal.

“I wish I went to training camp, I will say that, just to build that camaraderie with my guys — be that leader that I’m supposed to be,” says Lamb. “I can lead from a distance, but it’s nothing like the presence. I wish I was there for my guys, but I had to handle some business.”

The three-time Pro Bowl receiver is speaking on behalf of his partnership with BodyArmor, whom he has had a working relationship with for several years now. Lamb mentions how the popular sports drink actually helped him stay “hydrated” during his “difficult” workouts while holding out in training camp.

“Doing three-hour workouts for three-to-five days a week, I feel that’s pretty self-explanatory,” says Lamb. “The hydration process, it was very important, very imperative for me. I just knew that it was something that I needed to get done and stay on top of to come back and be in the right state of mind and physically in shape. BodyArmor helped get that done. The workouts were very difficult — and it was worth every bit of it.”

While the strawberry banana flavor is Lamb’s favorite BodyArmor drink, there’s a new limited edition drink featuring the Cowboys receiver on the bottle. Outside of it being available in only limited quantity, it’s notable because it features a “consumer AR
Arweave
experience.” What that means is that fans can scan the QR code on the bottle and it brings them to a bunch of interactive games in a digital combine, including how efficiently they can run routes.

“Grab your phone, put the picture on it and it’ll take you right to the link,” says Lamb. “At that point, you have fun. Show me your football skills, it’s fun on the power, that’s the whole objective here. I’m very excited to launch it. Can’t wait for the people to have it, can’t wait for the kids to have it.”

While Lamb is financially set for life, he details what he learned during the long negotiation period when it came to his contract.

“Trust in what you believe in, you’re not wrong — know your worth,” says Lamb. “What’s for you will be for you. I felt like I really stood on my gut and continued to be myself and understood my value to the team. I understand my value to the game and how much I put into it. Again, it’s surreal, I can’t really put into words because it happened so fast. But obviously, it took so long for it to happen. But throughout that journey, I’ve learned so much as far as maturing and composing myself mentally, developing different things, different traits and can’t wait to use it.”

With their defense carrying the load, the Dallas Cowboys picked up a big win in their season opener against the Cleveland Browns. We went into the game with certain notions about the strengths and weaknesses of the roster, so how did Week 1 change those perceptions?

Remember, this isn’t a ranking of how the different positions performed in just the previous contest. This is a living list that will change as we move through the year. The first edition was based on past performance and offseason moves, so now we finally have some more concrete evidence of where various Cowboys stand.

1. Guard (Last Week: 1st) – It wasn’t a standout night for the interior line. One of the ugliest plays was actually on Zack Martin, who got beaten badly by Dalvin Tomlinson for an early sack. That was the only glaring breakdown, but we didn’t see much push up front to help the run game either. The guards need a much stronger showing against New Orleans to avoid losing the top spot.
2. Defensive End (LW: 3rd) – It’s not often that DeMarcus Lawrence gets to shine as brightly as Micah Parsons, but both were outstanding in Cleveland. They combined for three sacks and harassed Deshaun Watson all day, including Parsons tipping a pass that led to Eric Kendricks’ interception. Marshawn Kneeland also had a strong debut with a pass deflection and two QB hits.
3. Quarterback (LW: 2nd) – Dak Prescott didn’t have big numbers but he played a clean game despite plenty of pressure. There were a few near misses, but he finished with no turnovers and some pretty throws to CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks. Returning home will help, but the Saints’ defense is stingy against the pass.
4. Linebacker (LW: 8th) – A great debut for Eric Kendricks and DeMarvion Overshown leads to a big jump in the rankings. We said last week that this group was held back by the unknown and, for at least one week, they gave evidence of having gone from a liability to a strength for the defense.
5. Safety (LW: 4th) – It was a quiet night for the safeties but that’s because the front seven was doing most of the damage. They didn’t really get chances to make plays.
6. Cornerback (LW: 7th) – Diggs had a pick, Caelen Carson held up well against Amari Cooper and other Browns receivers, and Jourdan Lewis had a strong game overall. They’ll miss DaRon Bland at some point but the Browns weren’t in a position to make them feel it.
7. Wide Receiver (LW: 5th) – There wasn’t much volume for the receivers but the starters made plays when given chances. Only one catch for Jalen Tolbert was disappointing but he should get more looks in the weeks ahead.
8. Tight End (LW: 6th) – Jake Ferguson’s knee injury was the scariest moment of the game but he appears relatively unscathed. No other TE even got a target.
9. Offensive Tackle (LW: 10th) – Tyler Guyton passed the Myles Garrett test, grading as one of the top rookie OTs in Week 1. We still need to see more in the run blocking from both the rookie and Terence Steele, but they won’t see too many defenses this year as good as Cleveland’s.
10. Center (LW: 11th) – When Tomlinson burst through the line and swallowed Prescott, we all assumed that was on Cooper Beebe. But the rookie center actually gave up no pressures in his debut. He won’t get noticed the same way Guyton does out on the edge, but Beebe’s first outing showed he’s in the right job.
11. Defensive Tackle (LW: 9th) – There were no big plays from the DTs but no major breakdowns either. They tread water this week, holding the Browns’ running game in check but failing to make any singularly noteworthy plays.
12. Running Back (LW: 12th) – If not for a few sweeps by Lamb to boost the average, the rushing offense would’ve averaged just 3.5 yards per carry. Zeke had a few nice plays, leaping a defender and scoring a TD, but it was crickets for the most part in the ground game.

Did we give anyone too much praise, or perhaps not enough? What would your list look like? Share it with us in the comments!

This is going to be a franchise-altering season for the Dallas Stars. 

On the ice, the Stars are Stanley Cup contenders once again. Off it, the team is at the forefront of a new, in-market streaming deal and taking more control of its distribution. The Stars have also been posturing for more control of the off-ice ventures around American Airlines Center. When the Texas legislature meets again in January, which only happens every two years, legalized sports gambling in Texas most likely will be heavily discussed. That could be a boon event for the NHL franchise when it comes to additional revenue streams and sponsorship. As if all of that weren’t enough, the Stars are also helping USA Hockey host the 2025 IIHF Under-18 World Championships in Frisco and Allen, a move that will make Texas the center of the NHL scouting world next spring. 

While there are some major risks with the TV deal, the franchise has positioned itself to be more of a power player in the NHL on and off the ice. 

With that in mind, I wanted to take a deeper look within the organization to see who wields that influence when it comes to everything in the team’s orbit–a power ranking in the most literal sense of the term. 

“Power” for this exercise essentially relates to the pull and clout an individual has. How much does his or her decision impact everyone else? The easy answer for lead billing is Tom Gaglardi, who will top this list every year he owns the team. So for the sake of creating some suspense–and, who knows, maybe this becomes an annual project–we’ll exclude him from this exercise. Everyone else is fair game. To be clear, this is my ranking and my interpretation based on 12 years covering the franchise. But I also reached out to members of the organization both to check my work and to build a more comprehensive picture.

Here’s who shapes the Stars into who they are:

13. Damon Boettcher, Senior Vice President, StarCenter Facilities 

One of the key reasons the Stars have succeeded in North Texas has been the building and operation of the rinks. The Stars have eight of them across North Texas, and those rinks have also been praised by USA Hockey, which in turn has helped the Stars land IIHF international events and USA Hockey national tournament. It’s telling that when consulting with people in the organization for this story, Boettcher’s name was brought up often by people on both the business and hockey sides.

12. Daryl Reaugh, Stars broadcaster 

Yes, a broadcaster made the list. No solely local broadcaster in the NHL wields as much power within an organization as Reaugh, who is believed to be one of the highest-paid local broadcasters in the NHL. The Stars’ radio with the Ticket is highly contingent on Reaugh being part of the broadcast, and he’s going to be one of the stars of the new Victory+ platform. In addition, Reaugh is involved in many non-broadcast business decisions, including being in the room for all branding and jersey design meetings. All of that plays into why he has turned down multiple national opportunities to stay in Dallas.

11. Jake Oettinger, Stars goalie 

The Stars have reached the final four in back-to-back springs, and Oettinger has played a major role in their getting that far. He also has played a role in their going home early: Oettinger was outplayed by his counterpart in both of those matchups. The 25-year-old has had stretches where he plays himself into “best goalie in the world” conversation, and he’s a pending restricted free agent. His play this season will determine whether the Stars take the next step as a Cup contender, as well as how much of the salary cap he’ll eat up next summer. 

10. Pete DeBoer, Head Coach 

DeBoer would probably be higher on this list, but the fickle nature of NHL coaching makes it hard for anyone in this position to wield long-term power. Still, DeBoer is one of the NHL’s highest-paid coaches at $4.25 million per season, the highest of any coach without a Stanley Cup ring. He will largely determine which way things go on the ice this season, which in turn impacts the long-term effectiveness of decisions Jim Nill has made, most recently the bet to bring back Nils Lundkvist as a restricted free agent. 

9. Joe McDonnell, Director of Amateur Acouting 

McDonnell runs the draft, and he has been on a heater in recent years with Dallas landing Wyatt Johnston, Logan Stankoven, and Mavrik Bourque with picks well outside the top 10 in addition to building the team’s core by landing Oettinger, Miro Heiskanen, and Jason Robertson in 2017. His next chapter comes with an added degree of difficulty: McDonnell lost his second-in-command this summer when Mark Leach was hired away to run amateur scouting for the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

8. Therese Baird, Chief Financial Officer

Baird worked for the Stars in the 1990s and rejoined the franchise in 2018 as the CFO. She is responsible for managing financial operations of the team, budgeting, and compliance within NHL rules on various projects. The fact that you don’t know her name means she’s doing her job well.

7. Matt Bowman, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer 

Bowman has been with the Stars for more than 12 years, moving his way up from a vice president role in ticket sales to Chief Revenue Officer. Bowman has been a key voice in conversations on the financial sustainability of the Victory+ platform and is helping lead in the marketing of the venture. 

6. Scott White, Assistant GM/Texas Stars GM 

Based on his work building a consistent contender in the AHL with the Texas Stars, it’s always a bit surprising to me that White’s name doesn’t come up in GM conversations. White has been tasked with delivering a winning product in the AHL while also being a key figure who has helped the Stars in college free agent signings over the years. He has delivered on both counts.

5. Rich Peverley, Director of Player Personnel 

Peverley has shot up the ranks of the organization during his post-playing career. He’s now effectively a third assistant GM as the Director of Player Personnel, in which he works with both player development and professional decisions, he’s a key part of Jim Nill’s brain trust when it comes to shaping the team. Many believe Peverley will one day be an NHL general manager, potentially even as Nill’s heir apparent. 

Walsh has been in the Stars universe since 1996, first working in production and entertainment for two decades before spending another decade as a vice president and executive producer on Stars broadcast with FOX Sports Southwest/BallySports. Walsh is now the Chief Operating Officer for sports for APMC and will largely be responsible for the success or failure of Victory+ as the team’s next broadcast platform. 

3. Andy Scott, agent, Octagon Athlete Representation 

You probably don’t know who Andy Scott is, but he is the person Nill has dealt the most with this summer. Scott represents Thomas Harley, who is an unsigned restricted free agent and whose next deal will greatly impact the Stars’ cap situation for the short and long term. Scott is also Wyatt Johnston’s agent and the man Dallas will be dealing with as it prepares to lock in its top-line center of the future. Those two deals will most likely determine a ton about the future makeup of the roster, both for what it means for two franchise cornerstones as well as the trickle-down effect of whether the team can afford to keep other long-time Stars, including Jamie Benn, in Dallas. 

2. Jim Nill, Stars general manager 

Nill is the third-longest tenured GM in the league and is effectively responsible for the Stars’ culture. One of Nill’s greatest strengths as a GM has been his commitment to short- and long-term planning: he lives by the mantra that his job is to worry about the state of the franchise today, tomorrow and five years from now. If not for the unusual swath of business issues surrounding the team this season, he’d be No. 1 on this list. 

1. Brad Alberts, Stars President and Chief Executive Officer 

All of the Stars’ day-to-day operations effectively run through Alberts. He’s also the person who greenlights the ability to take big swings on projects like the 2020 Winter Classic, the Victory+ streaming deal, and working with USA Hockey to land the Under-18s. And whenever Nill steps down, Alberts will be a key part of the group that will appoint his successor.