The Dallas Cowboys believe that Dak Prescott is their quarterback of the future, and the quarterback wants to be with the organization for the rest of his playing days.
Little has changed in a year.
Despite the longing, the Cowboys and Prescott were unable to reach an agreement on a long-term lease through the July 15 franchise deadline and they could not restart talks after this season. In the meantime, Prescott will make $ 31.4 million by 2020 – more than seven times what he earned on the field from 2016 to ’19.
“I grew up wanting to be a Dallas Cowboy and that’s me, and I’m dreaming of being a Dallas Cowboy until I’m ready to throw football,” Prescott said Wednesday in a conference call. “None of that will change, just because we can not agree on it this season. But like I said, I’m a Cowboy right now and that’s all that matters and that’s my main focus. “
Owner and general manager Jerry Jones said the lack of a deal was due to the unique offseason created by the coronavirus pandemic that will affect the NFL’s economy in the future and made it difficult to to create a contract of generation in “looking forward to an unknown period of time.”
However, the Kansas City Chiefs signed Patrick Mahomes to a 12-year deal this offseason that could be worth more than $ 500 million.
“We just could not get together at this particular point,” Jones said of negotiations with Prescott. “It’s easily worthless that a lot of people are not together in franchise mode this year.”
Prescott was one of 12 players with the franchise tag to not get a deal by the deadline.
Deputy Vice President Stephen Jones, who handled the direct negotiations with Prescott’s agent Todd France, acknowledged that the length of the deal was a sticking point. The Cowboys wanted a five-year contract; France against with four. The parties did not participate in serious discussions until March, only a few hours before the deadline.
“Dak and I had a great visit right on deadline,” said Stephen Jones. “He is so excited about our team and about our future. Finally, we will now have to figure out how this can be done. I am more convinced than ever that it will be done, but because of the moving parts we were dealing with the virus. and some of the other deals, which were not in the middle in terms of being normal, just made it for some challenges. “
As optimistic as the Cowboys and Prescott may right now be about getting a contract in 2021, the economy will likely be tougher. If the Cowboys re-use the tag on Prescott, it would cost them $ 37.7 million and salaries would go down, forcing the Cowboys to restructure a number of contracts or release high-cost players.
Only two quarterbacks have played a season on at least one franchise tag – Drew Brees and Kirk Cousins - and neither signed a long-term deal with their teams.
Prescott said he believes the way the negotiations ended could help Jones and France look more “eye to eye” in the talks ahead. He said he would be involved in the process if necessary, but he trusted France to get a deal.
For now, the focus is back on the field, not on the contract.
“I’m not someone who sees my future, to be honest. I really do not,” Prescott said. “I mean, I count my blessings every day. I run the day I am given and I’m happy with it. I’m grateful for it. It may sound cliché and what you want to make it, but I can not see it tomorrow. without worrying today and that’s the way I’ve been all my life. “
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