Dallas City News

It is an assumption by many that if the Dallas Cowboys do not have an extension in place with quarterback Dak Prescott before the season begins this weekend, that one will not come at all throughout the season as a whole. That would take us to the offseason where Prescott would be able to hit true free agency. Once again this is an assumption, but it is based on the way these things tend to go and how the Cowboys have handled things historically. The assumption also factors in how Prescott would be able to take advantage of the open market he would finally be in, not several months away from.

The idea of a Prescott extension has been a volatile one among Cowboys fans since it first entered conversation in 2019. One did not come then nor the offseason after as it took all the way until 2021, after a full franchise tag year, for the Cowboys to get one done. Stephen Jones infamously said after the fact that he erred by not getting a deal done with Dak “the first time” after the aforementioned extension.

Opinions are allowed to change as information does, and we have seen three more seasons from Prescott since that quote from Stephen. But the Cowboys have been in the playoffs in each of them, winning only a single game which is clearly unacceptable, and Prescott has been a big reason for that. He is coming off of what is objectively his best individual season to date.

As you are likely aware this is the conversation that people go around and around on. There are generally two camps of people, those who believe Dak is worth extending and those who do not. These accolades are often used to prop Prescott up while others offer criticisms as to why he isn’t worth keeping around.

One of Prescott’s teammates in Brandin Cooks was asked about the criticism specifically on Wednesday. He offered that the great quarterbacks he has played with in his career – Tom Brady and Drew Brees were named – had help around them.

Cooks then specifically challenged both the Cowboys’ front office and fans who oppose the idea of keeping Prescott around to let him walk and see what happens as a result.

Obviously Cooks and Prescott are teammates and therefore will have each other’s backs, but it’s not like they have been around each other forever. They are only entering their second season on the same team.

What’s more is that Cooks has been around the NFL and has seen his fair share of quarterbacks, teams and programs. Even if you do disagree with Cooks, consider that he is a leader on the team and that he is openly telling the front office what a mistake they are potentially about to make on the Wednesday of Week 1. When full and total preparation should be on the Cleveland Browns, not insinuating Cooks isn’t completely focused, this situation is hanging over the locker room to the point that Cooks said what he did.

Whether or not anything will happen here remains to be seen. As has been the case for some time now, we continue to wait.