Cowboys 'Intent' On New Deal For Dak
FRISCO - There is no change in the Dallas Cowboys' stated commitment to quarterback Dak Prescott, who as COO Stephen Jones has told us is "our top priority'' in terms of forging a long-term contract agreement this offseason.
But the testimony of plugged-in reporter Jay Glazer of Fox Sports does add another log to the fire of positivity.
"The Cowboys are intent on getting a deal done with Dak," Glazer noted on Monday. "I know Mike McCarthy loves him. The Joneses love him. I do think he'll end up getting a deal."
Prescott signed a $31.4 million franchise tag with the team to start the 2020 campaign after almost two years of negotiations that hit a stalemate when agent Todd France declined the Cowboys offer, as we reported it, of five years and $175 million ($35 mil APY), with almost $110 million guaranteed. Prescott's side preferred a shorter-term deal.
France oversaw negotiations with a handful of franchise-tagged stars a year ago. For what it's worth, he did not create new contracts for any of them.
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We have reported frequently in this space on the Jones family's desire here, and we know Prescott shares that desire. Prescott recently purchased a new home just minutes from the team headquarters at The Star in Frisco, and the Cowboys - coming off a 6-10 season in which Dak was lost for the year in Week 5 - recognize that he is the hub of their wheel, in the locker room, on the field and beyond.
The two-time Pro Bowler threw for 1,856 yards with nine passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns and four interceptions, posting a career-best 68 completion percentage before being lost to ankle surgery.
There is justifiable "what-if?'' speculation regarding Prescott's salary demands vs. his value in a trade; it's a franchise's job to explore those, just as it's an agent's job to do the same. Meanwhile, there are "breaking stories'' regarding the idea of Dallas tagging Dak again; there is nothing "breaking'' about this. If an agreement cannot be reached by March 9, he'll likely be tagged, at least as a placeholder, and then the teams can negotiate until mid-July.
If no deal is reached by then, the plan would be for Prescott to play the 2021 season on the tag, this time at $37.7 million.
But Glazer's good access to the Joneses and to McCarthy reinforces what we know to be the Cowboys' - and Dak's - "intentions.'' Now they must take the next step, and act on those intentions.
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