It apparently came right down to the wire. But in the end, the Cowboys front office simply ran out of time in trying to finalize a new long-term contract with quarterback Dak Prescott, despite a reported Hail Mary as the clock wound down.
Cowboys ownership- specifically, Jerry and Stephen Jones- have a history of doing dramatic last-minute deals. But with the franchise-tagged Prescott, the fourth-round draft pick who was unexpectedly thrust into the starting role as a rookie and has delivered nothing less than two Pro Bowl campaigns and two playoff berths in four seasons while never missing a start and playing for mere peanuts, there was no celebratory press release. One NFL insider, though, says an attempt was made.
NFL Network’s Jane Slater reported just minutes after the Wednesday afternoon signing deadline that the Cowboys and Prescott were engaged in talks right up until the end.
I'm told #Cowboys QB Dak Prescott was involved at the last minute in an effort to get a long term deal done but it was up against the 3pm CST deadline per source informed. The deal was between 33-35M annually with a 110 guaranteed. #Cowboys #Dak
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) July 15, 2020
According to ESPN’s Ed Werder via Twitter, Prescott and Stephen Jones “had a very brief conversation that the team requested and Todd France- the QB’s agent- helped to facilitate.”
Slater shared some pertinent numbers that were supposedly tossed around during that call, and even indicates that Prescott himself was ready to give the green light before the deadline ultimately passed.
Given that Prescott and the team have tiptoed around each other regarding a new deal dating back to the 2019 offseason, running out of time on the final afternoon of the negotiating window seems like an especially disingenuous “oops” of an excuse.
They had over a year to get this done.
"Too late" is pretty unacceptable. https://t.co/Xyea72mVfz
— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) July 15, 2020
Slater later amended her reported figures, but emphasized that Prescott seems to harbor no ill will toward the team as he prepares to go under center for 2020.
Dak Prescott declined to clarify but disputes some of the details reported here. Tells me while he did talk to Stephen Jones & try to get a deal done he's grateful and blessed to be a Cowboy and working & moving forward to do whatever he can to help the team win a Super Bowl. https://t.co/GbNuhiLZhK
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) July 15, 2020
Prescott, after all, will still be the starting quarterback for what most believe to be a playoff-caliber Cowboys team. He’ll still pocket $31.4 million for the season, an astounding 7.7 times his total earnings from the club over his first four seasons combined. And he’ll enter into negotiations with ownership all over again next year, when the market price for an NFL starting quarterback will almost assuredly be even higher.
What transpires on the field over the 2020 season- in whatever form that season ends up taking- will determine a lot. By pushing off their commitment to the player and flubbing a last-gasp attempt to lock him up, the Cowboys have effectively pushed all their chips to the middle of the table. Prescott is betting on himself for yet another year. And everything for both sides now rides on the upcoming season.
Barring a trip to the Super Bowl, it's hard to imagine Dak Prescott reaches a level that will convince *everyone* he is deserving of Elite QB Money.
That seems troubling, since the conversation likely starts at $38 million/year in 2021.
Hard not to wonder where this is heading.
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) July 15, 2020
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