“Yes,” he said, followed by a violent halt that left no room for interpretation.
Lance, a former FCS champion at North Dakota State University and the contest's MVP, was expected to be acquired by the Cowboys for about $4 million with an option for the 2024 season, but his projected transfer fee would be around $4 million for the 2025 season. Not to be confused with the 5th year option. He would guarantee him more than $20 million.
The Cowboys are never expected to acquire the latter, but in the wake of the former, he promises to give potential dethroned Rush a fair chance. This is a mission that former Cowboys quarterback Will Grier (and others) have largely failed to accomplish.
But both Jones and head coach Mike McCarthy like what they see from Lance during practice.
“The arrow is really pointing up,” Jones said. “He has exceeded expectations both as a person and as a worker. He has unique skills. He is exactly what we planned and wanted, and when we appointed him, we were able to I knew I was going to have to pay.” [2024 contract] Bonus now. That was part of the same decision.
“But it's been reinforced by his time with the team and his humanity.”
That being said, as mentioned above, it is also true that Lance has not seen a single in-game snap for the Cowboys thus far. Rush has been regularly sent in to help Prescott in the fourth quarter of several big wins.
Therefore, the evaluation process continues, but with a large amount of preseason work.
“I don't know the player, I don't know much more than when you bring him on the field from his experience in the game, and that's from his time in college and in San Francisco,” Jones admitted. “We didn't get to see it, but what we do know is what he's been doing in practice. We don't know about his game experience, but his practice and what he's been doing there. I know what I've been doing. It's all positive.”
Lance has worked hard in recent months, taking in as much as he can from McCarthy, Prescott, Rush and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.
It's time to show the Cowboys what he's learned.
