While Dak Prescott still waits on a possible contract from Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys, other players are being signed. On Friday, July 26th, 2024, the Miami Dolphins finally extended Tua Tagovailoa’s contract, offering him a four-year, $212.4 million extension. It is an impressive amount of $53.1 million a year. It also should rattle the general managers in the Cowboys office over Prescott.
Prescott has been in contract negotiations the entire offseason with no hopes of resolving the issue. There have been problems with the cap space and probably a lack of trust too.
Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys Compared to Tua Tagovailoa
What the Dolphins Have that the Cowboys Lack
It wasn’t an easy decision to sign Tagovailoa. He has been plagued with various injuries most of his career. He’s received criticism for being inconsistent in cold weather. He hasn’t won any playoff games.
However, the Miami Dolphins managers and coaches believe that he can.
The Dallas Cowboys gave up on those same hopes. There’s very little faith that Dak Prescott will make a difference for this Cowboys team. Most of that doubt stems from Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboys owner. During the training camp opening press conference, Jones said this about Prescott:
“And our players do play better when he’s out there,” Jones told reporters on July 25. He does make his teammates at a higher level, there’s no question about it. So I’m right there in line with his best fan, but believe it or not, in my life, I’ve had a lot of things I’ve wanted but I couldn’t get because I couldn’t afford it.” (27:07)
If you want Prescott, you pay him. It’s simple. But underneath all of this sly banter is the truth–they don’t trust Prescott to do his job.
Dak Prescott’s Expectations vs. Tua Tagovailoa’s Expectations
Tagovailoa has never won a playoff game (0-2) and got signed by the Dolphins. Prescott has won two and the Cowboys won’t sign him. That’s because the Cowboys aren’t interested in sparingly winning playoff games while getting creamed in others. They want the Lombardi trophy or at the very least, they’d like an NFC title.
But Prescott hasn’t delivered on these coveted trophies. The Dolphins are not a team known for their football playing talent. The expectations are a lot lower for a team that has been inconsistent over the years.
When the Dallas Cowboys get beat, again, in the first round of playoffs by wild card Green Bay Packers, people talk. That noise isn’t something Jones wants to hear, but it also hasn’t been fixed since Prescott has been quarterback. There’s an immense lack of performance, and that’s another reason Jones is hesitating to put his money where his mouth is.
Jerry Jones is “All In”, But Not on The Team
In the same training camp press conference, Jones stated that he’s “all in” on the program this year. But he isn’t talking about the star quarterback or camp holdout CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons, who he also has not signed.
He’s all in on them getting a victory in the playoffs. If they fail to live up to those high expectations, Jones will likely burn the whole program to the ground and rebuild from the ashes.
And this is why there’s a lack of trust.
When the man writing the checks says that he’s all in, but won’t pay you, it puts a sour taste in your mouth. Prescott can either use that sour taste to motivate him to make this an even more exceptional season or sink beneath the pressure.
If his past has anything to say about it, he might be wishing he had a life jacket.
Prescott Might Be “All In” Elsewhere
Prescott was asked how he would feel about switching teams.
“At the end of the day, it’s a business,” Prescott told reporters on July 26. “I wanna be here. But you know, when you look at all the great quarterbacks I watch, [they] play for other teams. So my point in saying that is that’s not something to fear. That may be a reality for me one day; may not be my decision.” (13:23)
Moving teams doesn’t change the problem. It’ll make it worse.
Let’s say Prescott doesn’t sign with Jerry Jones and chooses to strike his path. Where will that leave him? It’s hard to say. A good number of teams already have quarterbacks that they are confident in keeping. Out of the ones who don’t, how many have the cap space to add Prescott to the roster for a cool $60 million?
Even fewer. Prescott can leave, but to a team that isn’t a playoff contender. He’ll be left to help those guys rise to the occasion. And if we can tell anything from his playoff performance, Prescott plays worse under the beaming spotlight.
Main Photo: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports
