Emmitt Smith made waves last week when he suggested that Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott come down on his financial compensation in order to help the team stockpile a bit more cash for other players. In some circles, it’s become a popular opinion: any new contract would represent an exponential raise for the bargain-basement fourth-round draft pick; Prescott should nix being the highest-paid passer in the league since he’s not actually the best passer in the league and hasn’t even taken Dallas to a Super Bowl.
But the idea that Prescott should volunteer to take a smaller paycheck isn’t sitting well with Cowboys legend Darren Woodson.
“It’s a slap in the face for people to say he should take less,” Woodson said, according to Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “That is a slap in that man’s face.”
Woodson’s comments came as he was being inducted into the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame. Woodson is a native of the Phoenix area and played collegiate ball at Arizona State, but spent his entire 13-year NFL career as a member of the Dallas Cowboys. He won three Super Bowl rings with the team during the 1990s, was named to five Pro Bowls, and is a member of the franchise’s Ring of Honor. Today, the 50-year-old is an analyst for ESPN and works in the commercial real estate industry in the Metroplex. His office is located at the Star in Frisco, the team’s headquarters.
“I am watching every day,” Woodson said of the Cowboys quarterback. “My office oversees the practice field, and there ain’t nobody on that team that works harder than Dak Prescott. He is putting the work in. The man deserves it. That is commitment.”
But with so many free agents in need of new contracts and a talented roster seemingly on the cusp of greatness, shouldn’t Prescott be willing to cut Jerry Jones a hometown discount for the greater goal of hoisting a Lombardi Trophy?
“No. Hell no,” Woodson answered. “This is a capitalistic society. This is America. Why does he have to take less money? We are not expecting others to take less money. We didn’t ask [Eagles quarterback] Carson Wentz to take less money. Why should Dak be the guy to take less money?”
Another school of thought suggests that, as the face of America’s Team, Prescott could afford to take a lesser rate to stay with the team, and then easily make up the difference in lucrative endorsement fees and other business opportunities. It is a strategy that seemed to play a role in linebacker Jaylon Smith’s contract negotiation last summer. But the Mississippi State alum already bet on himself by playing the 2019 season without a longterm pact in place, and Woodson points out that banking on spokesman deals would be a monumental gamble.
“That is not promised,” the former safety argued. “The off-the-field pay is not promised. Take what he deserves. If he deserves $35-38 million, he should be paid $35-38 million. I think the man has earned it.”