The Long-Awaited Deal
The Long-Awaited Deal
By: Alejandra Puente
The long wait for Dallas Cowboys’ fans came to an end on March 9th, 2021, after a long year of ongoing contract negotiations! The Cowboys and quarterback Dak Prescott have finally reached a deal, making him the second-highest-paid quarterback behind Patrick Mahomes in NFL history. Prescott’s deal also gives him the highest signing bonus in NFL history of $66 million. According to Adam Schefter, he will be making up to $40 million a year for four years with $126 million guaranteed, with no franchise tag or trading clause.
Prescott’s contract has been up in the air since his rookie one expired, and it was time for a new one. The signing of the contract was a big deal the day it came out, as many other athletes took it to social media to congratulate Prescott and express their relief for the contract’s timing. For instance, former Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant tweeted in support of his former teammate, saying, “Congratulations brotha well deserved... shit I feel like I got paid!!!” Others included DeMarcus Lawrence, Jalen Ramsey, and dozens more. The contract is an exciting time for Dak and this organization and those rooting for him since his rookie season in 2016. The big question that has now arisen is whether or not the quarterback will step up and stay healthy.
This deal is being questioned due to his gruesome injury in week five during the 2020 season. Prescott has been on top of NFL records, even when he was injured. After being carted off the field, he still led the record for the highest passing yards, with 1,856 passing yards until Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback, Matt Ryan, passed him during week 7. According to Yahoo Sports, after all games were over and analyzed, Prescott remained on top for week 6, even without playing a single snap. Let us also not forget about his early success. As a rookie, he led the Cowboys to the playoffs and had a rating of 104.9, 23 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. In his second year, he had 357 yards in rushing and made a playoff appearance. In his third year, Prescott had 4,902 yards passing and a 65.1 completion rating. Prescott’s past seasons have shown that there is no doubt he can perform, but he tends not to succeed when it comes to big games.
The quarterback has lost in big games, like the divisional round games. The Cowboys have not gone past the divisional round in the past five years, having Prescott at the center. Prescott has not missed a single game until his recent injury, and his dedication to the team is overwhelming. Despite his injury and the ongoing pandemic, there would be reports that Prescott would visit the training facilities and games in support of his team. He wants to be in Dallas, and there is no doubt there. Prescott is a fighter and now has the opportunity to shut his critics down and potentially play the best football he ever has. Prescott, we are ready for you and excited to see your comeback.
Cowboys fans have kept their eye on this deal since his tragic injury against the New York Giants this past season. They have hoped that owner Jerry Jones and VP Stephen Jones could get this done and see the actual value of Prescott’s leadership and skill. There are not many quarterbacks of color who make it in the NFL, much less get a deal like Prescott’s. It truly is admirable how Prescott and his agent kept their foot down until he got his desired deal done. He betted on himself and made a precarious move, but he got the grand reward. Like Mina Kimes had tweeted, “Dak bet on himself and won. Pretty awesome… and not easy to do in the NFL.” Now it is all about the comeback for the quarterback and fighting for the chance to win the Lombardi trophy. It is exciting to see that he finally got what he deserved and how much this will fuel his comeback.