NFL
By: Greg Rector
If you’ve been reading articles and tweets the last few days about Dak Prescott’s future with the Cowboys you’ll have taken a side on his future. I am about to as well.
The Dallas Cowboys are going to move on from Dak. The protracted contract negotiations of last year, forcing his franchise tag designation has created bitterness from both sides, despite the protestations of the Jones family and Prescott’s team. The inability to come to a long-term deal combined with the Prescott injury and various other clues is making it far less likely that Prescott will remain a Cowboy for his entire career. Stephen Jones is less of a free-spender than good old JJ. No way would he have given Doug Free that huge contract a few years back for example. Since he is far more involved in contract negotiations these days, offers have been on the side of fiscally responsible.
The best piece of evidence though is the now-infamous “2021 Dallas Cowboys Hype Video.” How do you think the supposed franchise quarterback feels about being excluded from the video? What message does it send to the fanbase? To me the message is clear, the Dallas Cowboys are fully prepared for a future that doesn’t include Rayne Dakota Prescott. He is supposed to be the leader and face of the franchise. When you exclude him from the video why you should be excited for 2021 as a Cowboys fan? You must believe the exclusion wasn’t an oversight, but indeed was a slight against Prescott.
There are so many available options at the quarterback position ranging from the franchise tag and trading Prescott to drafting a quarterback at the 10th pick, along with a straight trade right now for any number of other current quarterbacks who are being rumored to be available or have made a trade request. This might be the wildest off-season ever seen at the quarterback position league-wide.
If I am Prescott’s agent and overall group looking out for his interests off and on the field, you have to be insulted at what has happened. Last year’s negotiations may have created so much animosity that the two sides won’t be able to overcome the hardball stances that both stuck with to the point the Cowboys were forced to use the franchise tag on Prescott. Both sides can share in the blame for this situation. As we all know when the parties should have been at the table last year, we found out they weren’t even talking. I blame both sides for that. The Jones family shouldn’t have used the timing like a gun to Prescott’s head. That tactic might have been the last straw between the two sides.
Scenarios:
- A public apology from the organization, namely from Jerry Jones. Yeah, that one won’t happen. Old JJ doesn’t do business that way.
- A trade demand from Prescott. He might just join the likes of Deshaun Watson and Carson Wentz.
I think we see the latter happen and it could come very soon. As I said earlier with the futures of so many quarterbacks being up in the air (Russell Wilson even making noise in Seattle) force the Cowboys hand and tell them he wants out. At this point, I believe Prescott holds the leverage over the team. I also believe the shot fired by the Jones family is simply a clear message they are ready and willing to move on without Prescott as their quarterback. As I am often saying here and on Twitter, when it comes to quarterbacks there’s always “TOO MUCH CREDIT AND TOO MUCH BLAME.” The events of the last couple of days are proof of that.
Thank you Dak and I for one am sorry this is the situation that you and the Dallas Cowboys find yourselves embroiled in. I hope wherever you go that you are successful. I also hope this turns out to be the right choice for the Dallas Cowboys.
As always find me on Twitter @GregCowboys
