FRISCO, Texas – Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is rehabilitating a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle he sustained October last year, but he’s already thinking about February and Super Bowl LVI.
“That’s my plan, a parade in Dallas,” Prescott said on the day he officially signed the richest deal in Cowboys history: four years, $ 160 million and an NFL-record $ 66 million in signing bonus. “As a competitor you look at people who celebrate, you look at people who do what you want to do and there aren’t many more things that ignite a fire under you than someone who has what you want. And every year we are not in the play -offs, or we didn’t make that flight, that’s just more fire.
“You toss that I held my leg and had no chance to be out there while guys did what was taken me away, I’m just excited to get out there and show you what this team can do. The next big one. The press conference we have is hopefully in another year after that big parade. So please. “
Prescott’s contract has been a story since the off-season of 2019, when he starred in the last year of his $ 2 million rookie contract. It dragged on for the 2020 season as he played on the $ 31.4 million franchise tag and ended on Monday when the team and Prescott’s agent, Todd France, reached an agreement.
It took a while, but for owner and general manager Jerry Jones, it was worth it.
“From the very beginning, we have said for sure that our future is with Dak,” said Jones. “We are well aware that the process we have gone through over the years has created, if you will, a conversation and maybe even a life of our own. … Don’t confuse that with how good we make this thinking decision and how much It’s been there from the very beginning. This is right. “
Prescott said he never thought he would move to another team.
“I’m excited to be here, never to leave, and excited about what this organization, what this team, what he fans are going to get,” said Prescott. “I’m excited to just go and do it and just to know this is my house, I’m not leaving. I’m a cowboy and this is just the beginning.”
Prescott still has work to do in his recovery to fulfill his Super Bowl dreams. He’s at The Star in Frisco, Texas, constantly in his rehab and said he’s doing well. Prescott said a second surgery performed in December had more to do with his ability to play long-term than the injury he sustained in the Week 5 win against the New York Giants.
“I’m healthy,” Prescott said. ‘I determine what I can control. I follow the doctor’s instructions all the time. Put my own work ethic in it. I am healthy, I am getting close. I’ll be ready when it matters. ‘
At the time of the injury, there was a recovery period of 4-6 months. The Cowboys will begin their official off-season schedule in April, and Prescott plans to participate in everything. He said he will continue his off-season work with John Beck, his quarterback coach at 3DQB.
Prescott acknowledged, however, that he must be “smarter” in his decision-making on the field, especially when running, such as when he was injured against the Giants.
“Before the injury, when I went back to high school, I was told to be smarter if I wanted to showcase my physicality or if I want to make a point in the game or change the momentum. I have to be smarter, “he said.” With this investment, which puts my health at risk at some point, it makes much more sense for me to be smarter and why people said that. Back in the day as a young bull, I think it was really hard to get it now, I mean on a play like that, down first, you go down, you slide.
“But to say the game is on the line, it’s a first down or it’s the red zone and I’m going there, that’s who I am. I don’t know if I can ever tone that down.”
Much of the negotiation between the Cowboys and France was the possibility of having a hood space needed to add players around Prescott. With two voidable years on the contract, Prescott will count just $ 22.2 million on the salary cap this season and have the option to restructure his contract in 2022, which could create up to $ 15 million in room.
On Wednesday, the Cowboys restructured the contracts of offensive linemen Tyron Smith, Zack Martin and La’el Collins, creating about $ 17 million in cap space, according to a source. That puts them under the cap that will enter next week’s period of free agencies with the opportunity to do some strategic signings, especially for a defense that enabled a franchise record of 473 points in 2020.
The Cowboys could also look to run back the deals for wide receiver Amari Cooper, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and Ezekiel Elliott to get more room if they so choose.
“We have the resources to do what we need to do,” said executive vice president Stephen Jones.
But the Cowboys believe that Prescott, who is 42-27 as a starter and has one playoff win, will be their centerpiece.
“It’s not as easy as Dak wins, Jerry wins, the Cowboys win,” said Jerry Jones. Let me tell you one thing: the Cowboys won today. They won today. And I am excited about this future. And that’s what we’re all interested in – the future. ‘
At one point during Wednesday’s press conference, the Joneses were asked if they felt they had the best team in the NFC East after re-signing Prescott.
The quarterback intervened with a quick yes.
“I think this partnership says it, right? That ensures their trust in me and like I said, as a man who lives by faith, just knowing you have a family, have an organization that wants you to be ahead, go do it, that’s all, “Prescott said.” Because I want to give them everything they want, everything they invested in. When I manifest it, when I put everything in it, it happens at the back. I’m just excited to be on the front of this, and we’ll all celebrate when it pays off. “