The offseason drama in Dallas is heating up, but it's not just about training camps or new drafts. The spotlight is firmly on a social media spat between Dallas Cowboys' current All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and former NFL wideout Cole Beasley.
A Social Media Spark
This offseason saw Cole Beasley, who has had stints with the Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, take to social media to critique Lamb's offseason workouts. Beasley hasn't played in the NFL since the 2022 season but hasn't shied away from voicing his opinions on current players.
"Give me 180 targets off the couch and I eclipse 1,000," Beasley claimed, taking a dig at the number of targets he believes it takes to reach significant milestones. Lamb didn't take kindly to this unsolicited assessment. "I don’t need 180 targets to touch a band," he shot back, implying he doesn't require the same volume of opportunities to achieve big numbers.
Stats vs. Skill
Beasley's critique appears to stem from a deeper concern about how his own career is viewed. Over 11 NFL seasons, he racked up 556 receptions for 5,744 yards and 34 touchdowns—a significant achievement by any standard. Yet, he feels these numbers don’t always reflect his true on-field contributions. "Stop looking at stats and check the tape. As far as getting open goes…I’m confident I did that with the best of them," Beasley voiced, underscoring his frustration about being overshadowed by mere statistics.
On the other hand, CeeDee Lamb is coming off what he considers the most prolific receiving season in Cowboys history. The younger receiver has a different perspective and isn't particularly interested in hearing critiques from former players. "Pull up tape, I'd match you route for route on getting open. Just chill," Lamb retorted, standing his ground against Beasley's critiques.
The Underlying Tension
The exchange did not end there. "I never said you did," Beasley responded, hinting that perhaps Lamb misinterpreted his original intentions. The interaction highlights a wider issue in the NFL: the tension between legacy players and current stars. While former players seek acknowledgment for their past contributions, current athletes like Lamb are focused on carving out their own legacy.
Lamb has made it clear he has little interest in unsolicited opinions about his game or training regimen. For him, the tape and the game are what really matter, not the noise around them.
A Broader Picture
While the back-and-forth between Beasley and Lamb may appear trivial to some, it underscores how past and present NFL players often find themselves at odds over respect and recognition. Beasley's comments also highlight a broader discussion about how different generations of players perceive the game and their place in it. His career statistics, while impressive, are a blend of talent and opportunity, and his pride in his ability to “get open” reflects a key skill often underappreciated by raw stats alone.
As for Lamb, his focus remains on the field, where he continues to prove his worth through action rather than words. Whether or not Lamb chooses to heed Beasley's advice, his consistent performance suggests that he is well aware of what it takes to succeed at the highest level. For now, the Cowboys' star wideout would rather let his achievements do the talking.
This feud, while seemingly minor, encapsulates the eternal debate in sports: the metrics of success versus the subtler skills that don't always show up on the stat sheet. But one thing is clear—both Beasley and Lamb are passionate about their respective legacies, and neither seems ready to take a step back.