Two years ago, around this time of year, the 8-5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers geared up to face the 11-2 Dallas Cowboys. It was flexed to Sunday Night Football, it was for critical playoff positioning, and it featured two young stars at the quarterback position.
At that time I wrote an article outlining the paths Dak Prescott and Jameis Winston had taken to that game. One the first overall pick and Heisman Trophy winner, the other a fourth round pick thought of as the next Tim Tebow in some draft circles.
Despite their vastly unique paths, they were each the starting quarterbacks of their respective teams, and thought to be the future of each franchise. Both were considered to be part of the future of the NFC playoff picture as well, with talk radio raging over “who would you start your franchise with” conversations.
Fast forward to 2018 and a lot has changed.
Are we sure either of these guys are franchise quarterbacks?
This is now the question that is being asked.
Winston, the former first overall pick, had his fifth year option picked up by the Bucs, but many are wondering loudly if that should be his last season in Tampa Bay. After all, how can you justify extending a quarterback who has been so inconsistent on the field and bone-headed off of it.
Still, you see the promise in Winston at times, in very rare flashes. For the most part, however, Winston has been a turnover prone gambler who’s execution does not outweigh his drawbacks thus far.
Then there is Dak Prescott.
Also scheduled to be a free agent after the 2019 season, “should the Cowboys extend Dak Prescott” is a daily sports discussion among Cowboys Nation.
Despite a winning record in his first two seasons as a starter, and most likely two division titles in three years barring complete collapse, there are legitimate questions about whether you can win with Prescott if you are allocating QB1 money to him. He has struggled with his pocket presence and anticipation, and has also proven to be inaccurate at times.
With all that being said, Dak Prescott is still deserving of praise as well, and may prove to be worthy of the contract extension that is likely coming his way.
Ironically, I feel a lot better about having the fourth round quarterback than I would about having the former first overall pick right now. Prescott has proven to be a leader and clutch performer in ways which Winston really has not, and it’s clear the Cowboys fight for Dak week in and week out. He’s also much more valuable as a runner, and far more risk averse or turnover prone.
Both Prescott and Winston entered 2018 in “prove it” years of sorts. And while we still have questions about each, Dak Prescott has done more “proving it” in my mind.
Regardless, a loss Sunday would make things a whole lot more interesting in Dallas moving forward.
“Dak is more valuable as a runner” REALLY? I would say his potential is greater but the coaching refuses to use him in this capacity esp. when in red zone opportunities. Dak is much more mature, and less likely to embarrass the organization off the field and really that is what seems to matter most to Jerruh. Sure Dak possesses leadership qualities but I am not sure that he will warrant a contract extension at $110m+ and a 5-year commitment.
Glad you’re not the owner. Most established QBs in the league didn’t rise to the level they are today in there first 3yrs. Drew Brees for one and Russell Wilson another. Tom Brady set on the bench and didn’t come in being a gun slinger. Again, get him a real OC that will call plays to his strengths and a real QB coach and this guy will soar. You all judge Dak based on people who have been in the league at established a least 7years. So unfair and I hope he gets 5 years 110 million. The Cowboys won’t be dead, get proper coaching in place and they will soar. You have written a death sentence on Dak and you will never see him getting better until you want to see him as being better. We will always be what we think we are and that also works for how we see people.There’s a lot of people who other people said they won’t amount to anything and that became motivation and Dak will prove you all wrong! Talk about the guy as if he was polished when he came in the league and judge him as if he’s Tom Brady and Tom still misses throws!
I guess that’s why your name is John Doe, nobody knows who the heck you are. You totally misconstrued it what I was saying, never said he was those guys I just showed you a parallel of those guys didn’t come into the league knowing how to read defenses having all their mechanics in tack. it took time for them to develop. It’s just that you want to judge Dak who doesn’t have three yrs in the league As if he’s done, you are so off the page brother. You don’t know football because of a guy comes in the first two years two and a half years you decide all that’s what I got and you won’t look at what kind of coaching you’re giving this guy where his development is concerned. Coaching means everything just like parenting does with your children you big dummy! So stop being a hater and give people opportunities to develop, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Philip Rivers, these guys had to develop coming into the league they were not spot on a top of the line top of the tier quarterbacks in the NFL when they started out even in the first two to three years. Also remember they had great coaching, coaching which is very important to a player’s development. Dak Prescott have the same thing, potential, resiliency, with the right coaching you’ll see that flourish in this guy. You never be in my front office on anything because once you see somebody in the first year or two you go ahead and label them.
that’s what we got, what about some of the people in life that have done great things and people call them a failure before they fully developed and now they’re saying man I wish we would have kept that guy. people in the league that have said that about guys they just brushed off and wish they would have kept them because of right coaching brought out the best that was in them.
One thing I learned about life is there’s no cure for stupid, John Doe that’s exactly what you are stupid! Every person in any Arena needs training you big dummy! want to be a computer programmer I don’t have that innate abilityin me, somebody trains me. Going to be a doctor I don’t just go in a hospital I have to go in and learn about the craft I’m getting involved in. Same with football Tom Brady needed Tools around him great coaching around him to bring the gift that was in him out. You don’t understand football and I don’t know where you working but I guarantee you unless you are self-employed and even if you’re self-employed you still learn your skills friend somebody. I don’t want to continue to respond to ignorance. I know that anything I do in life I have to be trained to become skilled at it and stay in pursuit of that skill that I want to achieve greatness in. I pray that that gets a five-year extension 110 million soda make your skin crawl. Go get paid Dak Prescott!
John Doe I said I wasn’t going to respond back to you, there’s not a quarterback in the league that hadn’t had to develop when they came into the league. Your statement doesn’t make sense at all. You’re trying to say Tom Brady came into the league polished and he sit on the bench in New England behind Drew Bledsoe. Drew Brees came in playing for San Diego, trade it to Miami, then found Sean Payton in New Orleans. Everybody has to develop oh, you didn’t come out of your mother’s womb a 40 year old guy 50 year old guy. You have to learn how to walk and what if a baby that tried to take steps took two steps and fell and said okay walking doesn’t work. Development is something we will continue to do all the days of our life and if you think you’ve learned all you can learn you are the one that’s put a seal on any kind of accomplishment you can have in your life!