CATCHING UP WITH COWBOYS WR CEEDEE LAMB
Former Oklahoma Sooners and current Dallas Cowboys rookie receiver CeeDee Lamb jumped on a virtual conference with fans, collectors and media hosted by Panini America. Here’s what he had to say about his first football cards, his NFL Dra experience and what he expects of himself through his rookie season.
SEEING HIMSELF IN A COWBOYS UNIFORM:
CeeDee Lamb: “It actually felt like a real thing. I was actually once one of those kids that collected trading cards. So, when I was actually living with my dad at a young age, it was probably one of my things that actually kept me connected with football. And for me to see myself on one of those trading cards, it was just a cherishable moment.”
PLAYERS HE TRIED TO COLLECT CARDS OF:
Lamb: “It was a lot, but around that time I definitely wanted Mike Vick, Donovan McNabb—that was like ‘05, ‘04 range. I definitely wanted Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Joseph Addai, Peyton Manning, the list could go on and on.”
HIS NFL DRAFT EXPERIENCE:
Lamb: “It was definitely a nerve-wracking moment just, just like sitting there at the waiting for my name to be called and the phone started ringing. I don’t even know how to explain it. I didn’t know I was going to end up on a Cowboy. But obviously now, looking back on it, I’m happy to be in the position that I am in right now and the team I’m on surrounded by great players. ere’s a lot to learn from but just a great starting point for me.”
IF HE HAD AN NFL TEAM PREFERENCE:
Lamb: “No, I didn’t have a team for preference, but I did want to be the first wide receiver taken.”
COMPARING HIS FORMER COLLEGE QUARTERBACKS, KYLER MURRAY AND BAKER MAYFIELD:
Lamb: “Honestly, I can’t really compare, just because both of them guys know how to win. ey do a great job of working hard. If any extra work needed, they’re willing to do it. ey’re winners. ey love to win. If they could run the whole game and score 100 points, I’m sure both of them would. But they’re definitely team-first quarterbacks, both Baker and Kyler. I enjoyed playing with both. ey’re both playmakers. You just never knew that to expect on any pass play, considering they both can run and make the pass. ey have a great feel for the game. ey’re great teammates. You can have them in just about any locker room. ey both have the mature ability of connecting with literally anybody in that room. I’m excited to actually play against them now at the next level.”
ON MISSING THE NORMAL EXPERIENCE OF THE NFL DRAFT:
Lamb: “Honestly, I did feel like I missed out considering I didn’t experience all the shenanigans that it goes with being dra ed and just living through the moment, getting to
shake Roger Goodell’s hand. ere’s a lot of stuff that ties in that I didn’t get to really experience. at’s the feeling you look forward to at a young age. But the same outcome still happened, so I’m very appreciative of that. I understand the position that we’re in. So, it’s not really much of a problem for me, just being more understanding.”
MEETING DALLAS COWBOYS VETERANS:
Lamb: “Well, I met with and was throwing with the guys before we actually met in the facility—Blake, Amari, MG (Michael Gallop), Tony, Zeke. e skill players, I saw them first, and it was definitely like a surreal moment for me. Just understanding where I’m at, on America’s Team. I’m actually in the National Football League. at was just a big eye-opening experience for me, like the time is now.”
WHAT HE’S LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST IN HIS FIRST NFL GAME:
Lamb: “Being out there and definitely looking forward to my first catch and first play. I’m excited for it all. And more importantly, a touchdown, but that’s obvious. I’ll be excited to get my first one.”
IF HE HAS A FAVORITE ROUTE TO RUN:
Lamb: “Honestly, I don’t. As I grew up through college, I learned to not have a favorite, because whenever it’s called, that’s when people know it’s coming. I will say, I enjoy running out routes now just understanding all the work that it took for me to learn how to run a run-and-out route from college. So, that’s probably my most bent route—the out route.”
THE CORNERBACK HE’S LOOKING FORWARD TO CHALLENGING:
Lamb: “Me being in the slot, it’s hard to tell, but honestly, just anybody. But I definitely would like to see Jalen (Ramsey). Just seeing him on the field you see it work. He’s definitely one of the best in the game, and if I get it an opportunity, it’s gonna be fun. It’s going to be a battle.”
THE 2020 ROOKIE HE WOULD COLLECT:
Lamb: “Jalen Reagor. I feel like we connect. at’s my dog. We actually both committed to OU at one point before he decommitted and switched to TCU. In high school, almost leading up to college, it was like he was like a brother already. Just meeting him, getting to understand what he’s been through. For us to both make it out of college and live
our dream in the NFL means a lot, because he’s like a brother to me.”
HIS GOAL FOR HIS ROOKIE SEASON:
Lamb: “Definitely to win a Super Bowl. I would love to win one of those big boys the first year. Obviously that’s a tough task with all the great teams. But I feel like it definitely is a reachable goal. I feel like we work hard enough, consistently, then handle business, it can be done. So, overall I definitely want a ’ship.”
COMPARING OKLAHOMA COACH LINCOLN RILEY TO NEW COWBOYS COACH MIKE MCCARTHY:
Lamb: “ey’re kind of the same type of coach to me, because I feel like they are both offensive-minded and they’re very creative with their plays. It’s fascinating just being around coach McCarthy lately. He’s a player’s coach. It’s hard for his players not to love him. He does a great job of spending time understanding each problem we need to solve as a team.”
RECEIVERS HE’S WATCHED AND LEARNED FROM:
Lamb: “e most recent ones, Randy Moss and Julio [Jones]. Just watching how they move. ey’re bigger receivers and a lot faster and stronger than most. ey love to win and they love the game. Just try to take a little bit of their game and add it into mine.”
WHAT SKILL HE BRINGS TO A LOADED COWBOYS OFFENSE:
Lamb: “Definitely would love to add another playmaker. I consider myself as a playmaker, adding another one in that offense, it’s just stacked. It is crazy to wake up in the morning, go to practice and see them boys in the locker room. Man, we could be real, real dangerous. e numbers last year were crazy. Dak’s numbers last year were crazy. Zeke’s numbers were crazy. Along with Amri and MG, and Randall Cobb. I feel like we got a chip on our shoulder this year. Just feeling the energy from those guys, I can already tell those guys are burning with fire.”
ANOTHER ROOKIE RECEIVER HE PREDICTS WILL HAVE A HUGE SEASON:
Lamb: “Jerry Jeudy. Because for the past couple years, they categorized me and Jerry together. At the at the Combine, to put the face with the name, we kind of formed a friendship. I can’t wait to see what he’s gonna do on Sunday’s.”
WHAT COWBOYS FANS CAN EXPECT TO SEE FROM HIM ON SUNDAY:
Lamb: “Just a happy rookie ready to play football, definitely ready to go. Go showcase my talents and definitely what we can do as a team for America’s Team. I can’t wait for you guys to see the 2020 Dallas Cowboys.”