The contract standoff between Dak Prescott and the Cowboys appears to be headed toward a franchise tag designation for the starting quarterback. The front office seems willing to let that happen in order to not set the market at the position; the player has no reason to voluntarily undercut his earning potential after a career-best showing in 2019.
Now the most decorated quarterback in the franchise’s history has publicly thrown his support behind the man currently doing the job for his former team. Hall of Famer Troy Aikman says that not only does Prescott deserve a record payday, he believes that owner Jerry Jones risks doing irreparable harm by not giving it to him.
Aikman was interviewed earlier this week on SiriusXM NFL Radio. Host Zig Fracassi and former NFL coach Todd Haley asked the three-time Super Bowl champion about Prescott and his ongoing negotiations with the club.
“He’s one of the best young players that I’ve been around. I think sometimes ‘leadership’ and ‘leaders’ gets thrown around. Those words get thrown around, in maybe a way that’s not reflective of, maybe, the players. But this guy, in every sense of those words, it’s what he is. His teammates love playing for him. He has an energy and a charisma about him that I haven’t seen in very many guys. And I think, for the most part, he’s matched that in his play and the progress he’s made.
“I know Jerry has talked about wanting to sign him; to me, it is a no-brainer. I’m surprised it hasn’t happened. I’d hate to think what might happen or how Dak might feel if they end up going the franchise tag route. I just don’t think that’s going to be in the best interest of all parties, and ultimately, I don’t think it’s in the best interest of the Cowboys. And it could have damaging effects, in my opinion. I’m hopeful they get a deal done.
“Sometimes I think what the public thinks of a guy or what the media thinks of a guy is not always the same way that a locker room feels about him or really how he presents himself and carries himself within the football team. That is not the case with Dak. I’ve never seen him in a situation where he’s not been totally authentic; I think that’s what’s endeared him to the players. And he’s old-school in the sense that he- honestly- in a time when I think more and more players are worried more about themselves, he’s an old-school guy that truly only cares about winning football games. It’s been refreshing. I love him. I hope he gets his money. He deserves it, and I believe that he will.”
As Grant Gordon of NFL.com points out, the former fourth-round draft pick out of Mississippi State has not missed a start since being thrown into the first-string role as a rookie. Prescott had never even missed a practice until late last season.
For 64 straight regular season games, Prescott has been one of the best quarterbacks in the league by any statistical measure. He’s been a stand-up guy after both wins and losses, the face of the franchise, a role model in the community, and an exemplary spokesman for America’s Team. He also happens to have done it all for mere peanuts on the NFL’s gargantuan pay scale.
It’s time for Prescott’s salary to match his resume.
And the guy with one of the best resumes in Cowboys history agrees.
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