The Dallas Cowboys commenced their training camp with a press briefing on Thursday afternoon in Oxnard, California.
During the press conference, owner Jerry Jones announced that the team currently has 14 Pro Bowlers and 12 All-Pros on the field.
“We have an outstanding team,” said Jones.
Jones also mentioned during the press conference that they have many moving pieces that they still have to discern.
“Maybe the best thing God gave me was a tolerance for ambiguity,” said Jones during the conference. “I don’t anticipate it getting any better with the NFL and the Cowboys. As a matter of fact, since we last met here last year, there has been even more ambiguity thrown on the table. Hello, NFL.”
One of those moving pieces is looming negotiations with key players such as CeeDee Lamb. When asked about CeeDee Lamb’s absence from camp, Jones responded, “It’s business as usual as far as I am concerned. I am used to this. I can live with this.” Jones added that players not showing up to camp is nothing new across the history of the league.
“These things have to be put into perspective as to where we are. And while [the fans] look in the moment at this issue as a serious issue, in the bigger picture… is that passes, and you move on and you go,” said Jones during the press conference.
“I’ve been doing this 30-something-years and I don’t feel like I have worked a day in my life, ever, but I have spent my life doing it,” added Jones.
“I’m into it. I’m all in,” said Jones.
Jones may be into more than he bargained for this week as he went to court for a paternity test, reported CBS News Texas.
Here is more of what CBS News Texas reported:
This week, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones went to court in Texarkana for a paternity case he has been fighting for the last two years. The trial was expected to last all week, but a new agreement between the parties involved put a resolution to the case just over 24 hours after it started.
The Dallas Cowboys arrived in Oxnard, California, on Tuesday for training camp after a three-hour flight from Dallas and an hour-and-a-half bus ride to the River Ridge Complex. Most notably not on the flight was wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, which was expected as he is hoping for a new contract.
Those who are at camp said they have high hopes, even after an inactive off-season with very few free-agent moves.
“We just have to make sure that regardless of who is practicing or who is here that we’re still doing what we need to do,” said Cowboys offensive lineman Tyler Smith.
This year’s camp marks the 45th year that the team has trained in Southern California and the 18th season at the Oxnard location.