Tag: Prescott

Jul 31, 2023; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and chief operating officer Stephen Jones (left) during training camp at the Marriott Residence Inn-River Ridge playing fields. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones says he understands fans frustration

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones acknowledged that the team’s front office is “very aware” of the club’s frustrated fan base after little splash was made during free agency.

Sure, the Cowboys added veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks on a one-year agreement on Wednesday, however the fans expected more — especially after Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said earlier this offseason that he planned to go “all in.”

And “all in” didn’t include signing two-time rushing champion Derrick Henry, who told Mad Dog Sports Radio that the Cowboys didn’t even reach out to him. That comes on the heels of seeing Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia) and Aaron Jones (Minnesota) — who lives in Dallas during the offseason — land with other teams while the Cowboys saw fellow running back Tony Pollard join the Tennessee Titans.

“Everybody certainly has that right (to be frustrated),” Stephen Jones said Thursday, via The Athletic. “I know where the frustration is, it’s the fact that we haven’t had success in the playoffs to their satisfaction. Until we do that, then the criticism is certainly something that’s going to be there. We know that’s going to be there, but we’re going to stick with what we believe will ultimately get us a championship here for our fans. We don’t define ‘all in’ by what you spend in free agency. It’s keeping the core (together).”

Dallas has little cap space to work with. The Cowboys also have quarterback Dak Prescott seeking a contract extension and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and linebacker Micah Parsons in line for large deals.

“It’s not frustrating because it means we’ve done a good job with the draft,” Stephen Jones said when asked about seeing big-name free agents land elsewhere. “That’s just a sign, in my mind, that our organization, Will (McClay) and the scouting department, the coaches, we’ve done our job in terms of developing players. It’s a great thing when you have Micah and CeeDee and the Dak (contract) challenge ahead of us, in terms of getting them under the cap. We’re certainly all in on getting that done.

“When you want to keep your players that you’ve developed and worked so hard to get … then you’re not going to be able to go out and chase those (high-dollar free agent) guys. … The way I look at things, I’ve always said it, player acquisition is 365 days a year. It’s not just the first or second or third day of free agency.”

Prescott, 30, is entering his ninth season and the final campaign of a four-year, $160 million contract he signed in 2021. Prescott’s salary-cap figure in 2024 is $59.5 million and the Cowboys reportedly have held preliminary discussions regarding a long-term extension.

Nine quarterbacks have signed contracts with higher total values since Prescott and the Cowboys completed their existing agreement.

Lamb, 24, heads into the 2024 season on the last season of his contract thanks to a fifth-year option.

However, after a season in which he set franchise records for receptions (135) and receiving yards (1,749), Lamb is expected to seek a significant increase from his $17.9 million fifth-year salary. That would bring him more in line with the annual salaries of other wide receivers in the league like Miami’s Tyreek Hill ($30 million) and Las Vegas’ Davante Adams ($28 million).

Parsons, 24, also has the numbers to earn a raise, having earned Pro Bowl team and All-Pro nods in each of his first three seasons. Selected by the Cowboys with the 12th pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, Parsons has one year left on his rookie deal, with this offseason being the first opportunity to extend his deal.

Parsons had 14.0 sacks to lead the Cowboys in 2023. He has a career total of 40.5 sacks in 50 games, all starts.

–Field Level Media

Jan 14, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) walks off the field after losing in the 2024 NFC wild card game against the Green Bay Packers at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott accused of sexual assault after filing extortion suit

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is being investigated for an alleged sexual assault in 2017 related to the extortion lawsuit he filed on Monday that claims the woman demanded money to remain quiet about the allegation.

The woman filed a criminal complaint Tuesday and Dallas police are investigating her claim that Prescott sexually assaulted her in the back of an SUV in the parking lot of a strip club, XTC Cabaret, on Feb. 2, 2017. Attorneys representing the accuser claim Prescott’s representatives acknowledge they were together on the night of the alleged incident.

Prescott’s lawsuit, which was filed in Collin County, lists the female accuser and her attorneys. Prescott claims they demanded $100 million for her silence in a letter he received in January.

The Dallas Police Department is investigating claims of sexual assault, and authorities in Prosper, Texas, began an extortion investigation one day before the alleged victim reported the alleged sexual assault.

“Mr. Prescott, a new father to a baby girl, has great empathy for survivors of sexual assault,” attorney Levi McCathern, who is representing Prescott, said in a statement to ESPN. “He fervently believes that all perpetrators of such crimes should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. To be clear, Mr. Prescott has never engaged in any nonconsensual sexual conduct with anyone. Lies hurt. Especially malicious lies. We will not allow the defendant and her legal team to profit from this attempt to extort millions from Mr. Prescott.”

Prescott, 30, was drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State.

He’s now entering his ninth season and the final season of a four-year, $160 million contract he signed in 2021. Prescott’s salary-cap figure in 2024 is $59.5 million and the Cowboys reportedly have held preliminary discussions regarding a long-term extension.

Nine quarterbacks have signed contracts with higher total values since Prescott and the Cowboys completed their existing agreement.

–Field Level Media

Dec 3, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) walks off the field after win against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Hardly Irrelevant: Brock Purdy new MVP favorite

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Could Brock Purdy go from Mr. Irrelevant to NFL Most Valuable Player in less than two years?

San Francisco’s quarterback is the +300 MVP favorite at DraftKings after leading the 49ers to a 42-19 victory at Philadelphia on Sunday. Not only did it serve notice that San Francisco might be the NFC’s most dominant team, but Purdy outplayed previous MVP favorite Jalen Hurts in his own building.

Hurts, who was the +250 favorite at the book just two weeks ago, dropped to +350. That’s equal to Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott, who is on his own rapid rise after opening the Week 13 slate with his sixth consecutive multiple-touchdown game in a comeback win over Seattle on Thursday night.

The trio are the +350 co-favorites at BetMGM. There is then a significant gap to two previous MVPs — Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson at +600 and Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes at +750, followed by Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa at +800.

Jackson and Mahomes are being offered at +900 at DraftKings after being +350 and +400, respectively, just two weeks ago. Tagovailoa has shorter odds than both at the book, where he is +700.

Jackson’s Ravens are coming off their bye week and are tied with Tagovailoa’s Dolphins atop the AFC at 9-3. He will have plenty of opportunity to state his case down the stretch with a Week 15 game at Jacksonville followed by a cross-country trip to battle Purdy in San Francisco ahead of a Week 17 home game against Tagovailoa and Miami that could decide home-field advantage in the AFC.

Mahomes and the Chiefs have fallen a game off the pace following their loss at Green Bay on Sunday night — Kansas City’s third loss in its past five games. Mahomes, the reigning MVP, does not have any remaining games against other MVP candidates, although the Chiefs also play only one more team that currently has a winning record.

Meanwhile, Purdy has plenty of opportunity to continue to shine on the national stage.

San Francisco plays host to Seattle on Sunday, followed by a game at Arizona before the Week 16 tilt against Baltimore on “Monday Night Football.” The 49ers close out the regular season with a trip to reeling Washington and a home game against the Los Angeles Rams.

After a slow first quarter, Purdy led San Francisco to touchdown drives on six consecutive possessions at Philadelphia. He finished the game with 314 passing yards and four touchdowns. Critics will point out that his receivers racked up 212 yards after the catch and that 48.5 percent of Purdy’s passing yards this season have been the result of YAC.

However, Purdy has already outplayed Hurst and Prescott in head-to-head blowouts by San Francisco, and he’ll have an opportunity for a third signature win against Jackson and the Ravens.

Purdy leads the NFL in completion percentage and quarterback rating.

The 49ers (9-3) are now second in the NFC behind the Eagles (10-2), whose next two games are at the Cowboys (9-3) and Seahawks (6-6). How the NFC playoff picture looks after the next several weeks could have a major factor in how the MVP race shakes out.

–Field Level Media

Aug 19, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) walks to the locker room following a 22-14 Seattle victory at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys: Lance trade has no bearing on Prescott contract talks

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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the acquisition of quarterback Trey Lance was not influenced in any way by the lack of contract negotiations with current QB1 Dak Prescott.

Jones made the comments before the Cowboys’ final preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday. The Cowboys acquired Lance from the San Francisco 49ers on Friday.

“Didn’t cross my mind, period, about an impact here regarding Dak,” Jones told reporters. “I know that Dak wants to do anything we can do to improve this team and we’re going to do it. The facts are that the decision to bring in as high a quality of talent as we could, that’s involving young talent … that’s something that we’ve been trying to do, just never the opportunity seems to be there.”

Further, Jones said he did not give a heads up to Prescott or Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy about the trade.

The Cowboys signed Prescott to a four-year, $160 million extension in March 2021 and he’ll carry a $59.45 million cap hit in 2024. The Cowboys would like to extend Prescott but there have been no substantive talks, ESPN reported.

Jones said the Cowboys have liked Lance since the 2021 draft, when the Niners moved up from No. 12 to select Lance No. 3 overall.

“And so we felt good about him with the evaluation we had for him at the draft. We felt good about what we’ve seen, tape that he’s had since he’s been in the NFL,” Jones said.

The Cowboys will carry three QBs on their 53-man roster, with Cooper Rush also locked in.

Lance was lined up to be San Francisco’s starter in 2022 before fracturing his right ankle in the second game of the season. The injury, which included ligament damage, required two surgeries — the second to remove hardware from the first that was causing irritation in the ankle.

Lance has appeared in just eight games (four starts) over his first two seasons, completing 56 of 102 passes for 797 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions.

–Field Level Media

Oct 30, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) and guard Zack Martin (70) celebrates a touchdown scored by running back Tony Pollard (not pictured) during the second half against the Chicago Bears at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys restructure deals for Dak Prescott, Zack Martin

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The Dallas Cowboys cleared about $30 million in cap space Friday by restructuring the contracts of quarterback Dak Prescott and right guard Zack Martin.

The moves put the Cowboys under the 2023 salary cap with the free agency window opening next week.

Prescott was guaranteed $31 million for next season and carried a $49.1 million cap hit. The team converted $29 million of his salary into a signing bonus, clearing $21.75 million of cap space, per Spotrac.

Dallas also converted $12 million of Martin’s 2023 salary into a signing bonus, clearing another roughly $9 million in cap space.

Prescott, 29, passed for 2,860 yards with 23 touchdowns and a league-high 15 interceptions in 12 starts (8-4 record) last season.

Martin, 32, made his eighth Pro Bowl and earned his sixth first-team All-Pro selection after starting all 17 games last season.

–Field Level Media

Jan 22, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy before a NFC divisional round game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Jerry Jones: Mike McCarthy to call plays in 2023

Posted on | by Field Level Media

It’s official: Mike McCarthy will call offensive plays for the Dallas Cowboys in 2023.

That from owner/general manager Jerry Jones, who told reporters at the Senior Bowl on Wednesday that McCarthy will bring a version of the offense he ran in Green Bay to the Cowboys next season.

“This is the logical step to build on it and use what we’ve established, if you will, the foundation of wins we got. This is the time to build on it and that’s what this is, this a building step,” Jones said.

McCarthy was head coach for the Packers from 2006-18 and called the offense for the majority of that time. He was also an offensive coordinator for New Orleans and San Francisco before taking over the reins in Green Bay.

The Cowboys parted ways with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore on Sunday. Moore hooked on as OC with the Los Angeles Chargers less than 24 hours later.

“I think Mike felt it was in our best interest to keep Kellen when he first got here because Kellen’s outstanding,” Cowboys executive vice president and CEO Stephen Jones said. “The more he’s been around Kellen, as much as he respects him, there’s still a part of it that don’t totally jibe, if you will, with what he wants.”

Jerry Jones also confirmed that the Cowboys have talked with Carolina Panthers running backs coach/assistant head coach Jeff Nixon and Los Angeles Rams tight ends coach/assistant head coach Thomas Brown to replace Moore as OC.

Jerry Jones said the team will resume talking with wideout Odell Beckham Jr. in free agency. The team flirted with Beckham late in the 2022 season but with the WR continuing to rehab from ACL surgery, he likely would not have been able to suit up. Beckham missed the entire 2022 season.

Both Jerry and Stephen Jones also told reporters the team wants to retain running back Ezekiel Elliott. The team could dump Elliott’s contract with just a $11.8 million cap hit in 2023. The team signed Elliott to a six-year, $90 million extension in September 2019.

Elliott rushed for 876 yards and 12 touchdowns in 15 games (14 starts) in 2022. Elliott missed time with a knee injury and at times took a back seat with the emergence of Tony Pollard.

Further, Stephen Jones said the Cowboys are committed to quarterback Dak Prescott and are open to extending his contract to lower his cap hit. The team signed Prescott to a four-year, $160 million contract extension in March 2021. Year 1 of the extension kicks in for the 2023 season, giving the Cowboys a $49.1 million cap hit.

However, Jerry Jones also said the team is committed to drafting a quarterback, saying the Cowboys should have committed to drafting one every year years ago.

Prescott injured his thumb in Week 1 against Tampa on Sept. 11 that required insertion of a steel plate and screws to promote healing in his right hand. He returned Week 7 against Detroit.

Jerry Jones also confirmed that wide receiver Michael Gallup underwent two arthroscopic surgeries Tuesday on his knee and ankle. The knee was a meniscus repair and the other was clean-up of his ankle. He’s expected to be ready for the start of the offseason program in April.

–Field Level Media

Dec 29, 2022; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Dallas Cowboys center Tyler Biadasz (63) is helped off the field after an injury during the second half against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys C Tyler Biadasz to undergo MRI on ankle

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dallas Cowboys starting center Tyler Biadasz will undergo an MRI on Friday to determine the severity of the ankle injury he sustained in Thursday night’s win over the Tennessee Titans.

The Cowboys believe Biadasz suffered a high-ankle sprain, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Team owner and general manager Jerry Jones said during a radio appearance that he was hopeful the injury “may not be as bad as we think.”

“But we’ll see how he responds,” Jones added.

Jones also told 105.3 The Fan that quarterback Dak Prescott likely hyperextended his knee during the game. Prescott came up limping after a second-half play but never came out of the game.

“He’s in good shape,” Jones said Friday. “He might have hyperextended it a little bit. We were checking with the sideline and we knew he was going to be good.”

Biadasz was injured on the final play of the third quarter during the Cowboys’ 27-13 win. He did not return and was in a walking boot standing on the sideline during the fourth quarter.

Prior to the injury, Biadasz was the Cowboys’ snap counts leader on offense, having played in 100 percent of the offensive snaps, save for end-of-game blowouts against Minnesota and Indianapolis. He started all 17 games for the Cowboys in 2021.

Jones also said he expects running back Tony Pollard (thigh) to return in Week 18.

–Field Level Media

Dec 21, 2021; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) looks on before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys plan full OBJ Day in, around Dallas next 24 hours

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Call it Odell Beckham Jr. Day in and around Dallas, where the Cowboys kicked off a schedule of events Monday morning with the intent of luring the free agent receiver to sign with the team for the final regular-season games and playoffs.

Beckham’s agent confirmed he would be at The Star for a medical check-up, meet with team officials and cap the evening with a trip to the Dallas Mavericks’ NBA game with Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott.

Head coach Mike McCarthy and owner Jerry Jones echoed Prescott’s bold push for the team to land Beckham, who has not played this season while recovering from his second career ACL tear. The knee injury took place during the Super Bowl as a member of the Los Angeles Rams in February nearly 11 months ago.

“Hopefully an agreement can be worked out. I think it’ll be great to get him in the building,” McCarthy said Friday.

While away from the field, Beckham did remain in the news cycle in recent weeks.

He was removed from a flight out of Miami when the crew noted he was “in and out of consciousness” but Jones said that matter is not of any significance to the Cowboys.

Dallas has a 9-3 record and plays AFC South teams in succession before what could be a division-deciding contest with the Philadelphia Eagles (11-1) on Christmas Eve.

The Cowboys have competition in the Beckham bidding. But Dallas has $6.3 million available under the salary cap, more than the New York Giants or Buffalo Bills combined, and Beckham reportedly prefers a warmer climate — and a two-year contract — because of the multiple knee injuries in his past.

A three-time Pro Bowler, Beckham, 30, has 531 career catches for 7,367 yards and 56 touchdowns in 96 games with the Giants (2014-18), Cleveland Browns (2019-21) and Rams (2021).

–Field Level Media

Oct 23, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) throws during the first half against the Detroit Lions at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys run over Lions in second half as Dak Prescott returns

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Ezekiel Elliott scored on two 1-yard plunges and the Dallas defense forced five second-half turnovers as the Cowboys defeated the visiting Detroit Lions 24-6 on Sunday.

Dak Prescott, playing in his first game since suffering a broken right thumb in the season opener, passed for 207 yards while completing 19 of 25 attempts. He threw his first touchdown pass of the season with less than two minutes remaining.

Elliott gained 57 yards on 15 carries, while Tony Pollard rushed for 83 yards on 12 carries. Cee Dee Lamb caught four passes for 70 yards for Dallas (5-2).

The Lions’ Jared Goff passed for 228 yards but fumbled twice and was picked off two times. Jamaal Williams gained 79 yards on 15 carries but committed a pivotal turnover.

The Lions (1-5) led 6-3 at halftime. Michael Badgley put Detroit on the scoreboard with a 40-yard field goal with 3:58 left in the first quarter.

Brett Maher’s 22-yard field goal, which capped a 72-yard Dallas drive, tied it up early in the second. Badgley’s 53-yard field goal put Detroit back on top.

Dallas had a good chance to at least tie the game late in the half, but wide receiver Noah Brown fumbled and the Lions recovered at their own 3-yard line.

Trevon Diggs intercepted Goff to end Detroit’s first possession of the second half. The Cowboys then embarked on a seven-play, 82-yard drive, which included a 28-yard run by Pollard. Elliott capped it off with a 1-yard run.

Detroit saw a 79-yard drive flame out early in the fourth quarter. After his team reached the Dallas 1, Williams fumbled on a hit by Demarcus Lawrence and linebacker Anthony Barr recovered.

Goff was intercepted by cornerback Jourdan Lewis with 8:29 left, leading to Dallas’ clinching touchdown. Prescott hit Brown with two passes on the 54-yard drive, which was capped by Elliott’s second touchdown of the game.

Dallas regained the ball two plays after the next kickoff when Goff fumbled on a strip sack by Sam Williams. Prescott found Peyton Hendershot from 2 yards out to complete the scoring.

–Field Level Media

Aug 29, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott , owner Jerry Jones and receiver Amari Cooper talk prior to the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Jerry Jones: Cowboys expect Dak Prescott to start Sunday

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Everyone in Dallas is on the same page: Dak Prescott should start Sunday against the Detroit Lions.

Owner Jerry Jones seconded Prescott’s opinion that this is the week the quarterback returns from a thumb injury on Sept. 11 that required insertion of a steel plate and screws to promote healing in his right hand.

“He’s determined to (start),” Jones told 105.3 FM The Fan on Tuesday. “From my perspective, I think he’s gonna get there. We feel like physically (he’s ready to return). He’s going to be given every opportunity this week to go play. He looks ready to go.”

Thumb strength and, specifically, grip strength, kept Prescott from playing Week 6 in a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles that dropped the Cowboys to 4-2. Prescott is 0-1 as a starter this season and watched backup Cooper Rush go 4-1 to keep the Cowboys in contention in the NFC East. The loss at Philadelphia dropped Dallas into third place in the division behind the Eagles (6-0) and New York Giants (5-1).

Jones said Tuesday the question would be getting Prescott ready. The quarterback is at the team facility on Tuesday — players are technically off — undergoing treatment to make sure he’s doing all he can to return this week without limitations.

“I think he’ll be back and we’ll get to do anything we want to do,” Jones said. “I think we’ve got it all there. I don’t think there will be any limitations.”

Prescott moved from the rehab group to a limited participant in position drills at midweek last week, taking snaps and throwing passes. He was officially questionable to face the Eagles, although coach Mike McCarthy indicated he wanted the seventh-year quarterback to have a full week of practice before returning to game action.

Prescott, 29, said Sunday night that’s his goal this week.

“I plan on going into this week and trying to get my full week of practice,” Prescott said. “Obviously, got to see the doc, but, yeah, that’s kind of my plan.”

With Prescott out, Rush led the Cowboys to four straight victories before throwing three interceptions in a loss to the unbeaten Eagles on Sunday night.

In 2021, Prescott completed a career-high 68.8 percent of his passes and threw for 4,449 yards and a team-record 37 touchdowns.

–Field Level Media