The drama surrounding the Dak Prescott contract situation hit an all time high just a few weeks back, when the Cowboys failed to reach an agreement with their quarterback prior to the July 15th deadline.
Prescott will now play the 2020 season under the franchise tag, and will once again enter free agency next offseason.
But while from the outside looking in this feels like a sticky situation, Stephen Jones is maintaining his public confidence in both Prescott as a player, and in a longterm deal eventually getting done. Jones spoke with DallasCowboys.com this week, reiterating his feelings about Dak Prescott heading into the future.
“We're fired up about it and still have nothing but 100 percent belief in Dak and his future with the Cowboys, and that we can ultimately get a deal done. He's special. As Jerry and I have said, we are 110 percent behind him, and ultimately feel like we'll get this done” – Stephen Jones.
Jones also got into why there seemed to be issues getting the two sides to agree on a deal. While he attributed some of the struggles to the unusual times of the pandemic, he also discussed the differences in the length of contract Prescott was looking for.
“They certainly want a shorter deal. Historically we have, as management, wanted longer deals because it's more cap friendly and we're able to spread some things out and keep some players. At the end of the day, and Dak understands this, that's what we're trying to do.”
I understand why Stephen Jones would want to, in an ideal world, be able to sign Dak to a longer deal like they have some of their other stars in the past. This would allow for potential restructures and “kicking the can” down the road.
But…the quarterback market is just different. Prescott has earned himself the right to negotiate the deal he wants, and at some point the Jones family is probably going to have to cave. Because if they don't, some other team certainly will.
And the Cowboys cannot afford to start over at the quarterback position given the win-now state of the rest of their offense.
