ARLINGTON, Texas — CeeDee Lamb wasn’t happy about losing a ball in the sun on an incompletion that prevented Dallas from scoring a go-ahead goal in the first half of a game. 34-6 loss to Philadelphia on Sunday.
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones was alarmed that the sun was again a problem in his $1.2 billion retractable-roof stadium that has glass doors at both ends.
AT&T Stadium has an unusual east-west alignment from end zone to end zone, unlike most venues that are north-south. On clear days the sun shines through the windows on the west side during the first half of the game, which starts in the afternoon.
Lamb, Dallas’ All-Pro receiver, was looking into the sun in the second quarter while open on a crossing route in the end zone when a Cooper Rush throw went behind him and he never adjusted to the ball.
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Lamb then pointed to his eyes and made similar gestures on the sideline during the match another frustrating home loss for the Cowboys (3-6), who have lost four games overall and are 0-4 at AT&T Stadium.
“I couldn’t see the ball. I couldn’t see the ball at all. The sun,” said Lamb, who ended a preseason stint in late August by signing a four-year, $136 million contract extension.
When asked if the Cowboys should put up curtains, Lamb replied: “Yes. One thousand percent.”
And when asked if he would make the suggestion to Jones, Lamb said: “I mean, you’re all doing my job for me now.”
It has been suggested many times, but Jones has always rejected it outright. The 82-year-old billionaire angrily dismissed it after raising the issue unprompted during his postgame session with reporters.
“By the way, we know where the sun is going to be when we flip the coin, so we know where the damn sun is going to be in our own stadium,” Jones said. ‘Let’s just tear down that damn stadium and build a new stadium. Are you kidding?’
While Jones’ response could be construed as criticism of embattled coach Mike McCarthy, Jones said that was not the case.
“Every team that comes in here has the same problems,” Jones said. “They know where the sun will be. Every team has the same thing. I’m not saying (it’s on McCarthy). I say the world knows where the sun is. We know that almost a year in advance. So someone asked me about the sun. What about the sun? Where is the moon? We’re doing well. But everyone plays here in the sun.”
The Cowboys are bracing for the official word quarterback Dak Prescott needs season-ending surgery for a torn hamstring. They have lost five in a row at AT&T Stadium, with five turnovers in each of the past two losses.
The curtains, or lack thereof, only add to the anxiety. The next time they will be a problem is Thanksgiving Day against the New York Giants.
“You can’t win games by turning the ball over five times,” McCarthy said. “I don’t care who’s in line. So that’s the part we have to get right.”
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