The Dallas Cowboys' annual pre-training-camp press conference was an abject disaster. It featured familiar footnotes, including Jerry and Stephen Jones going on the defensive as they continue to drag their feet with contract extensions for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb.
It's almost criminal that Micah Parsons' next contract hasn't been discussed. Any competent franchise would explore signing Parsons a year ahead of time (now) before his price tag increases more after his fourth season.
Unlike Lamb, Prescott is present at training camp and practicing in full. That was always the expectation. Not only is Prescott an elite leader, but no player in the NFL has close to as much leverage as Prescott has over the Cowboys.
It's not unprecedented, but it is extremely rate that a front office has zero influence over a negotiation with a franchise quarterback. Despite that, Jerry Jones proclaimed to the media that he expects Prescott to be Dallas' quarterback beyond 2024.
Prescott was asked about Jones' comment after Thursday's practice. Not only did he push back on Jones, but he refused to commit to the Cowboys past this season.
Dak Prescott pushes back on Jerry Jones, doesn't commit to Cowboys past 2024
"I'm gonna say it, I want to be here, but when you look it up, all the other great quarterbacks that I watched play for other teams," said Prescott, via NFL network's Jane Slater. "So my point in saying that is that it's not something to fear. That may be a reality for me one day. It may not be my decision."
It is cool to see Prescott press the issue and go on the offensive after the front office dragged this negotiation out much longer than it needed to. Prescott's price tag has jumped to potentially $60 million per year as a result and he's taken slings and arrows from the media, the majority of which doesn't believe he is worth that much money.
Prescott has stated numerous times that he doesn't care what critics say, but there's a principle involved. While Prescott deserved to be criticized for his performance in the playoff loss to the Packers, it is entirely on the front office that he's primed to become the first player in NFL history to sign a contract worth $60 million annually.
The two-time Pro Bowler has also defended the Cowboys' dormant offseason. As much as Prescott probably wanted to speak out against Dallas ranking dead-last in money spent, he deflected by praising the guys they have in the locker room.
Prescott knows he has all the leverage. He's an elite quarterback and deserves to be paid like one. As scary as it is to picture the Cowboys without Dak under center, there's absolutely nothing wrong with him flashing his verbal muscles to the media and pushing back on Jones.
