Dallas City News

Cowboys’ Dak Prescott: Not Taking Contract Talks ‘Personal’ with Jerry, Stephen Jones – Andrew Peters, Bleacher Report

Lengthy negotiations aside, Prescott is keeping an even-keel mindset about the contract situation.

In an interview with ESPN’s Troy Aikman, Prescott said he’s not taking contract talks with Jerry and Stephen Jones personally and is instead keeping the season ahead as his main focus.

“It just reminds me that this is a business,” Prescott said (1:10 mark). “And I don’t take anything personal to be honest with you. I control what I can and that’s being the best that I can on that field and leaving it up to my agent and to the Jones’ and getting the deal done. Obviously I’ve played a part in it, a lot of great communications, but to me it’s about taking care of my job and my part, and it’s showing up every day and being the best version of myself and continuing to improve to make sure that I’m worth every dollar of it.”

Prescott will play in the final year of a four-year, $160 million contract in 2024 and will be an unrestricted free agent should he and Dallas fail to agree upon an extension.

While the Cowboys will begin their season on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Saturday that the two sides are still “working away” at a new contract in the waning hours of the offseason.

He said Dallas is hoping to have something done before kickoff on Sunday, but there is still a “gap” between the Cowboys and Prescott’s team.

Getting Prescott an extension before the start of the season would certainly help eliminate the distraction of his looming free agency, but he made it clear he intends to play his best regardless of his contract status.

“Small chance” Cowboys, Dak Prescott get deal done – Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk

The Cowboys could announce a new contract for their franchise quarterback before the season-opener at Cleveland.

It appeared that the Cowboys and quarterback Dak Prescott had abandoned any hope of extending his contract before the start of the regular season. In recent days, the pendulum swung the other way.

Now, a night before the Week 1 game between Dallas and Cleveland, there’s a “small chance” it gets done.

That’s the latest word from a source with knowledge of the situation. And if it’s going to be officially done before 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday, they’ll need to get an agreement in principle ASAFP, work out the language, type up the paperwork, and get Dak’s signature on the bottom line before he pivots to football mode.

Week 1 isn’t a real deadline. But if the two parties regard it that way, it is.

The final deadline comes after the 2024 season, when Prescott inches toward the open market — and when the Cowboys have no way to keep him from becoming an unrestricted free agent. Weeks if not months before then, he’ll know who wants him and how much they’ll pay.

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Expert predictions for Cowboys-Browns: Will Dallas kick off season with tough road win? – Staff, DMN

The six staff writers all predict a loss in the season opener. Sherrington and Watkins explain:

Kevin Sherrington: The Cowboys weren’t a good team on the road last year, and opening in Cleveland won’t help them get off to a better start this year. Tyler Guyton will have his hands full with Myles Garrett. He’ll need help, meaning fewer resources elsewhere. Dak Prescott can make a nice case for a new contract with a win in the opener after the flop against the Packers. He’s usually good at bouncing back. The Cowboys need it. Browns 24, Cowboys 21

Calvin Watkins: The Cowboys have lots to prove. It’s not about the unsettled future of the players and coaches. The Cowboys have to prove they can stop the run and we’re not sure if the offseason changes will benefit them. Deshaun Watson’s ability to run RPOs and play action might disrupt the Cowboys linebackers and edge rushers. It’s going to be a close game until the fourth quarter. Browns 20, Cowboys 10

Pete Prisco’s Week 1 NFL picks: Cowboys win road opener – Pete Prisco, CBSSports.com

Prisco likes the Cowboys on the road.

Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns (-2.5)

Deshaun Watson has been banged up some for the Browns, but he will start at quarterback. The Cowboys have CeeDee Lamb back after his contract, which will be big. Cleveland is a tough place to play for an opener, but the Cowboys will be up to it. Look for the defense to attack Watson and turn him over as the Cowboys win a tough road game. Pick: Cowboys 22, Browns 20

NFL Week 1 picks – Staff, ESPN

ESPN is 2-1 in favor of the Cowboys, 3-1 if you include the algorithm.

Browns storyline to watch: The Browns will unveil a revamped offense they hope can get QB Deshaun Watson back to Pro Bowl form, but Cleveland has questions beyond its starting signal-caller. Left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. told reporters he won’t start as he continues to come back from a season-ending knee injury, which could force right tackle Jack Conklin to move to the left side, a position he hasn’t played since college. It would be a tough transition for Conklin, who is returning from his own season-ending knee injury, against a pass rush led by Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons. — Daniel Oyefusi

Stat to know: Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is five receptions away from being the fastest Cowboys player to reach 400 career receptions, passing Dez Bryant (80 games).

Kahler’s pick: Cowboys 30, Browns 21

Moody’s pick: Cowboys 24, Browns 21

Walder’s pick: Browns 28, Cowboys 24

FPI prediction: DAL, 51.0% (by an average of 0.4 points)

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Cowboys could make history starting four rookies — Guyton, Beebe, Carson, Liufau — versus Browns – Todd Archer, ESPN

Archer notes that while last year’s draft class combined for three starts the entire season, this year’s draft class could surpass that in the season opener.

In their history, the Cowboys have never had four rookies start in Week 1, though twice they started three (2002, 2020).

Some coaches might be reticent to start rookies. Not Mike McCarthy, who was in his first year in 2020 when CeeDee Lamb, Trevon Diggs and Terence Steele started the opener.

“Yes, we have young players,” McCarthy said. “It’s going to be their first NFL game, their first for a lot of things. Their first NFL game, their first NFL road game. So all that applies, and we’ve got to make sure we’re ready and have confidence that we will be.”

CeeDee now on 53; Nick Vigil elevated – Staff, DallasCowboys.com

Ceedee Lamb now officially on the 53.

A move that was definitely expected, CeeDee Lamb has officially been placed on the 53-man roster. When he ended his holdout and signed his contract, Lamb was placed on the NFL’s Commissioner Exempt List, giving him time to get acclimated to football shape.

But the Cowboys never filled his roster spot, so they don’t have to make a roster move.

In another move, linebacker Nick Vigil has been elevated from the practice squad for this game.

Cowboys vs Browns: Deshaun Watson’s issues with ‘poor footwork or mechanics at times, and poor ball placement’ – Dave Halprin, Blogging the Boys

What SB Nation’s Dawgs by Nature had to say about their Cleveland Browns ahead of Sunday’s game.

Blogging The Boys: Give us your perspective on Deshaun Watson. What has been the problem so far outside of just injuries, and what are the expectations heading into this season?

Dawgs By Nature: People will point to Deshaun Watson’s record last season as a sign of optimism (his record was 5-1 as a starter), but that was a testament to the Browns’ defense, and the same type of good fortune that helped propel Cleveland to the playoffs last season despite all of their injuries (including having five starting quarterbacks during the year). This offseason, there isn’t much to go by with Watson, since he didn’t participate in any preseason games. Over the past two years, when he was healthy, he was a mix of being rusty, having poor footwork or mechanics at times, and poor ball placement with his receivers. My personal opinion is that all of the hatred he received for his off-the-field scandal ended up making him a bit of a headcase on the field, in the sense that he just couldn’t shake it. It seems like enough time has passed and headlines have died down about Watson, so that stuff should be a bit more mentally behind him. In the final game he played in prior to his injury, a victory over the Baltimore Ravens, he did have his best game as a member of the Browns by far, appearing confident and like he was a difference maker. We have no idea what version of Watson we will see in Week 1 against the Cowboys; your guess is as good as anyone’s.

BTB: The Cowboys are starting a rookie left tackle; Myles Garrett will certainly be ready for that matchup. Will the Browns try to isolate that matchup and who else along the defensive line could cause problems for the Cowboys?

DBN: Between Myles Garrett and Za’Darius Smith, the team’s two starting defensive ends last year, they had 19.5 sacks and 50 quarterback hits. The backup defensive ends, Alex Wright and Ogbo Okoronkwo, combined for 9.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hits. After that, you had the defensive tackles pitch in for a few sacks. Cleveland made very few changes to their defense this offseason, but one of their changes came in the signing of DT Quinton Jefferson, who has 16 sacks over the last 3 seasons. All of that is to answer the question of who else could cause havoc on the defensive line — it can come from any direction at any time. Specifically with Myles Garrett, I think from a general gameplanning standpoint, Garrett will be moved around occasionally, just to keep the Cowboys guessing. Overall, though, you’ll see a heavy and consistent dose of Garrett going up against the rookie — then, it’ll be a matter of whether Dallas’ gameplan is to trust the rookie, or to offer help with a tight end.

After tragedy, loss and grief, Cowboys DC Mike Zimmer has a chance to heal in Dallas – David Moore, DMN

Head on over to the Dallas Morning News for this excellent piece by David Moore which details the personal challenges Zimmer and his family have been up against.

[Zimmer’s daughter] Corri, [son-in-law] Loy and their two boys were already living in the area when Mike returned to the Cowboys in January. [Daughter] Marki moved back when her father got the job. He stayed with her until he got a place closer to The Star.

“He won’t tell you this, but I think this is a good thing because they do have some great memories here in Dallas,’’ [Paul] Guenther [Cowboys run game coordinator and close personal friend] said. “Just the fact his daughters are here with him, his grandkids are here with him.

“Obviously, he loves Dallas. It’s a good thing for him. He may not tell you that, but I’ll tell you that.’’

Life is good for Mike and his daughters. Good, but not the same.

Football has been a constant companion. Corri said it’s all the family has known and has helped them cope.

Being back with the Cowboys helps even more.

“It’s a full circle moment,’’ Corri said. “I just wish that Adam could be here, too.’’