The Dallas Cowboys are big on tradition, and it’s becoming a factor in handing out jersey numbers to rookies.
The Cowboys announced rookie numbers on Monday with one exception. First round pick CeeDee Lamb was absent. The wide receiver himself stated he intended to wear No. 10, but owner Jerry Jones wants him wearing 88.
Cowboys rookie jersey numbers:
31 – Trevon Diggs
75 – Neville Gallimore
41 – Reggie Robinson II
63 – Tyler Biadasz
51 – Bradlee AnaeCeeDee Lamb still being determined. Lamb said after the draft he was going to wear 10. Jerry Jones said he wanted Lamb to wear 88
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) April 27, 2020
Why 88? The likes of Dez Bryant, Drew Pearson, and Michael Irvin have worn the number, but Jones told reporters it was to pay tribute to his late college teammate Jerry Lamb.
“When we were, this is a little drama from our perspective, when we were all sitting there and had said our piece, and then we said, ‘okay, what’s it going to be?’ I said in honor of my great friend that just passed this year we’re going to have his namesake come on here and wear old number 88,” Jones said, via RJ Ochoa of Blogging the Boys. “Just like Michael and Dez and those guys, and we’ve got us a wide receiver. And let me tell you one thing if he’s got the competes and heart of that Jerry Lamb he’ll be bad to the bone.”
We’ll see who gets their way here. Jones’ vision may not match with Lamb’s. Plus, who knows how one ex-Cowboy who would love to return to the team would feel about his number being given away.
