The Dallas Cowboys just gave another monster deal to a star player, locking up star wide receiver Amari Cooper for five years with a $100-million contract, but the Cowboys were unable to reach a long-term deal with franchise quarterback Dak Prescott by Monday’s deadline. The team placed an exclusive franchise tag on Prescott, ensuring that the 26-year-old would not become a free agent, and will pay him around $33 million in 2020.
The Cowboys reportedly offered Prescott a contract worth $33 million annually, but the deal was rejected. NFL Network’s Jane Slater reported that the Cowboys offered an improved deal that would have been in excess of Jared Goff’s contract (four years/$134 million, $110 million guaranteed), but ultimately had to resort to tagging Prescott.
On First Take, Stephen A. Smith and Cowboys Michael Irvin got into a heated debate over whether the Cowboys were treating Prescott fairly in negotiations. Smith began the debate by erupting, and managed to maintain that energy for the entire segment.
“Four straight years, never missed a start! Winning record in three of the four years! Completed 65 percent of his passes in three of the four years. Just nearly threw for 5,000 yards. You paid Ezekiel Elliott. You paid Jaylon Smith. You now paid Amari Cooper. You paid every damn body but your quarterback?
…. You’re going to sit there with a straight face and act like you don’t know any better? Don’t you sit here and act like Dak Prescott has been treated fairly.”
Stephen A. wisely paused in the middle to take a drink and lubricate his throat, or he may have been hoarse by the end of the show. Irvin then had his turn to unleash, while Max Kellerman just sat quietly and watched the chaos unfold.
According to Irvin, both Prescott and Jones are simply doing business, and neither side is in the wrong.
“I want you to stop the rhetoric that Jerry’s doing Dak wrong…. We’ve gotta stop saying Jerry is doing him wrong. This is business! If Jerry had offered him $25 million a year right now, then I would be with you [saying] ‘oh my god, Jerry is way out of line.’ But when he’s offering him 33, 34, and we don’t even know what Dak is asking for?
…. I’m going to tell you what I’m OK with. The exclusive franchise makes him $33, 34 million dollars this year. A 40-million dollar deal next year! So over the next two years he’s going to make $75 million dollars! I don’t say that’s doing somebody wrong.”
Has Jerry Jones disrespected Dak Prescott by not working out a long-term deal by now? You make the call:
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