After Troy Aikman called the Dallas Cowboys' receivers "lazy" and "terrible," All-Pro CeeDee Lamb responded during a sit-down interview with former coach Jason Garrett.
FRISCO - What Mike McCarthy flatly rejected, CeeDee Lamb is openly receiving as constructive criticism.
Dallas Cowboys Hall-of-Fame quarterback Troy Aikman added to the "Cowboys in Crisis!" narrative making the TV talk show rounds this week. Aikman targeted the team's receiving corps, saying they were "lazy" and "terrible" in route-running and the like.
McCarthy, whose 3-3 team travels to play the San Francisco 49ers Sunday night, objected to Aikman's evaluation earlier this week at The Star.
"They don't carry any weight with me,'' McCarthy said boldly, "because I watch all the tape, I get to go to the meetings, I'm at practice, I'm part of the games. So I have a clear understanding of what and where. Troy's statement in particular, I don't agree with the word selection.''
Owner Jerry Jones, meanwhile, didn't necessarily agree word-for-word with Aikman, but he did laud his football acumen and indirectly stamped his approval on the critique. Quarterback Dak Prescott took a shot at responding, as well.
"Whether Troy got personal, whether he went too far, once again the guy gets paid to do that and he’s doing a job ... a job he knows is going to create a ruckus," Dak said. "The last thing I’m allowed to do is allow it create division inside this building.”
The last piece to the puzzle, of course, was reaction to the subject of the "lazy" and "terrible" barbs ... Lamb himself.
On Thursday the All-Pro receiver side-stepped any controversy by simply saying "Got to be better overall'' and then demanding reporters drop the topic.
Said Lamb to a follow-up, "Next question.''
But on Friday Lamb responded thoughtfully to Aikman's words. In a sit-down interview with former Cowboys coach Jason Garrett that will air on NBC prior to Sunday night's game, Lamb - surprisingly? - accepted the harsh criticism with open arms.
"As a leader, I take it in," Lamb said. "We got to work. I use it as a building block. If you say our routes are lazy ... I'm going to go out here every week and show you my routes. Personally, I take that as constructive criticism. If we can control it, let's go work at it and get better at it. I'm a hard worker. So anything you say that I'm not doing, I'm going to show you that I am doing it."
With a re-focused Lamb and the likely addition of running back Dalvin Cook, the Cowboys get their chance to show an improved offense Sunday against the defending NFC champions.
