There’s no other way to look at the Dallas Cowboys’ 2023 season than as a complete failure.
Though they went 12-5 to win the NFC East and tie for the best record in the conference, Dallas laid an egg in the first round of playoffs with a blowout loss to the Green Bay Packers as seven-point favorites. It was a letdown in every way possible. For a team that entered the playoffs with the fourth-best Super Bowl odds, no one was without fault, including Dak Prescott, who played far below his MVP-caliber standard from the regular season.
The quarterback has since taken a bulk of the criticism for the loss, which is only natural. What isn’t natural is for some of those shots to be coming from his own side, which is exactly what’s been happening. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones just added to the fire with his response to a question about Prescott’s contract situation.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones declined today to address Dak Prescott’s contract, or that of any other specific player. “Dak has done nothing to change my mind [about] any promise for the future. …We will go as far as Dak takes us. And that’s how far we went.” pic.twitter.com/gId6MlpMs0
— Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) January 31, 2024
“We go as far as Dak takes us. And that’s how far we went,” Jones said. It’s a comment that can be taken a number of ways. But aside from just being untrue in a team sport, it’s incredibly telling in that Jones didn’t show outright support for his franchise quarterback in a time he needs it most. In addition to typical pundit and fan criticism, Prescott has also been scrutinized by family members of his own star teammates. CeeDee Lamb’s mom said “Dak isn’t it” after the loss, and Micah Parsons’ brother also took a swipe at the quarterback.
It’s one thing to take heat from people who don’t play and ultimately don’t matter to the team. It’s another thing when the owner expresses his own apparent doubts. Jones may have simply been trying to gain leverage in negotiations with Prescott, who has one year left on his current deal, but that forum wasn’t the time or place. If he was sending a message, it only threatens to further alienate his quarterback — whose own brother wants him out of Dallas. How does that help anything?
Cowboy fans why continue to DM me TRUST ME, if I could get @dak to leave Dallas I would. I too want him out of Dallas. The city and organization have been great to he and our family, but done with drama and the so called fans, but he loves this team, and wants to bring it rings
— Tad Prescott (@Tp1stprescott) January 20, 2024
Prescott might not be a top-five QB, but he was a top MVP candidate in 2023. He led the league in touchdowns and completion percentage and was top-three in yards and QBR. He’d be extremely difficult for the Cowboys to replace. If they’re going to win any time soon, it’s more likely to be with him than not, and that only happens if he’s fully supported. Jones should keep that in mind the next time he says something about the quarterback his team is so dependent on.
