Dallas Cowboys linebacker, DeMarvion Overshown, took to Twitter/X recently to defend his team’s quarterback, Dak Prescott.
Overshown missed his entire rookie season last year thanks to a knee injury suffered in a preseason game. He’s reportedly on track to be ready for training camp.
I like Overshown and was thrilled when Dallas drafted him in the third round. I think he’s going to be a great player for the Cowboys.
And it sounds like he’s fired up for the 2024 season.
He’s doing the right thing here, standing up for a teammate. That’s what you’re expected to do on any team – at least publicly.
But is he right?
The Guy Leading The Troops
“Dak Prescott is the guy we want leading us into battle on GameDay!”
I don’t doubt this statement at all. I’m sure every player in the locker room would say the same thing.
Just like I’m sure the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army said the same thing about Gen. George Armstrong Custer in June of 1876.
Or the Mexican Army and General Antonio Santa Anna just before San Jacinto.
Let’s not forget Cornwallis at Yorktown, Napoleon at Waterloo, or Hannibal at Carthage. Or Tony Romo in Seattle…
All Generals with great records. Until they faced their biggest contest and came up well short.
Sound familiar, Cowboys fans?
Which brings us to Overshown’s second point.
What Fake Narratives?
“Stop with all the fake narratives.”
Such as, DeMarvion? Please list these “fake narratives” of which you speak.
It’s a common refrain with the Dak Defenders – I have the copyright on Dak Pack as a moniker for them – to point to his regular season record.
What other option do they really have?
Yes, in his eight years as a starter, he has a great regular season record. Heavy emphasis on “regular season” as we go forward.
He is 73-41 with 29,459 yards. He has thrown for 202 touchdowns against only 74 interceptions.
In 2023 he had his best year statistically and the Cowboys have gone 12-5 in the regular season for three straight years.
Great numbers indeed. And who cares?
I can tell you all 59 Super Bowl winners in order. I’ll make it easier on you.
List the last five Super Bowl winners.
Now, tell me which teams had the best regular season record in each of the last five years?
I’ll give you a hint. Only one Super Bowl winner in the last five years had the best record in the regular season they won a title in.
A great regular season is nice to have.
But it is absolutely meaningless if you do nothing in the playoffs.
Prescott’s Playoff Record
Prescott is 2-5 in the playoffs and 0-3 in the divisional round. That’s not a “narrative” at all.
That’s a cold, hard fact.
“It isn’t fair to blame Prescott for the whole team’s playoff record” says his defenders.
Prescott is looking to be paid more than any other player in the NFL. Along with the majority of the money comes a majority of the blame.
I trust you’ve hear “You can’t have your cake and eat it too”, right.
He’s thrown two interceptions in each of his last two playoff games. In 2022, his two picks took a minimum of three points off the board for Dallas.
They were converted into six points by the 49ers. A nine-point swing in a game won by San Francisco by seven points.
A couple of months ago, his two picks were converted into 14 points by the Packers for a 27-0 Green Bay lead.
Dak’s defenders will point to his final stat line and say he played a great game because he threw for over 400 yards and three touchdowns.
All of those TDs came after the game was decided, with Dallas down 27-0, and the defense beaten down. He threw for 300 of those yards well after the game was decided.
The “fake narrative” was that the loss wasn’t his fault.
It clearly was. To say otherwise is delusional.
Dak Not Alone To Blame
But I will admit that he isn’t 100% to blame for the Cowboys’ failure in the playoffs.
And that makes this upcoming season a “prove yourself or get out” season for everyone at The Star. And I do mean everyone.
Because Prescott isn’t he only Dallas player that disappears when the lights get bright.
In four playoff games, CeeDee Lamb is averaging six catches and 79 yards a game. He has one touchdown in those four games.
Micah Parsons, also in four playoff games, is averaging 4.5 tackles per game. He has one total sack in his playoff career history.
These are the three “leaders” for the Dallas Cowboys.
These are unacceptable numbers.
After the shocking loss to Green Bay, I was calling for every player on the roster to be available to be traded. My stance is unchanged today.
If these players – and I’m talking the entire roster – cannot step up their game when it matters then they need to be playing elsewhere.
The same goes for every coach on staff.
If you cannot get your players ready to take the next step, then go coach elsewhere after the 2024 season.
Nor is the front office immune. If this front office cannot figure out how to build a championship team – especially after 28 years – then it needs to go too.
That is the only “true” narrative here.
Cowboys’ fans are tired of this song and dance. We have one “narrative” for the front office, the coaches, and the players going into the 2024 season.
Start winning when it matters, or get out.