Cowboys QB Dak Prescott drops expletive when asked about Rangers, Stars and Mavericks

If it seems that Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott stays in the news, it’s because it’s true.

Prescott, already a lightning rod for national media because of his contract and the playoff failures of the Cowboys under his leadership, is always saying or doing something that garners attention, intentionally or not.

And Wednesday was no different when a general question about him rooting for the Dallas Stars and Dallas Mavericks in the playoffs resulted in profane answer that is sure to go viral and become a talking point on making all the national talk shows Thursday morning.

The Stars and Mavericks are one step away from reaching the championship round in their leagues.

The Stars face the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL Western Conference Finals. The Mavericks are facing the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA Western Conference Finals.

And the Texas Rangers, of course, are the reigning World Series champions for the first time in franchise history.

It all has a Cowboys franchise, which hasn’t reached the conference finals, let alone the Super Bowl in 28 years, looking kind of lost — especially when you consider the still unfathomable and unconscionable 48-32 season-ending playoff loss to Green Bay Packers in January.

The Rangers, Stars and Mavericks have made multiple trips to the finals since the Cowboys last won in 1996.

Prescott is rooting hard for the Mavericks and Stars but is also quite envious and motivated by their success.

“It fires you up. A hundred percent,” Prescott said after OTA practice. “Yeah, any competitor should, damn sure, in my position, leader of the team, understanding what winning means here, not getting it done, and then watching your brothers across the city, go and make these things happen. I want it for them. I want it because it only raises the stakes and makes it tougher on me. And I’m for that. Go win it. Rangers did it. Other two go do it. Put more [expletive] pressure on us.”

Prescott said he doesn’t play for money

Prescott also made headlines when talk turned to his uncertain contract situation.

Coach Mike McCarthy complimented his quarterback on his ability to compartmentalize. He has not let contract talks with the Cowboys impact his focus at practice and work toward being the best player he can be.

Prescott is heading into the in the final year of his contract and is facing certain free agency in 2025 if the Cowboys don’t get a deal done.

The Cowboys say they want to sign to a long-term extension but have not had any substantive talks with his agent Todd France.

“Business, business is business,” Prescott said. “I’ll leave it where it gets handled. Right now, it’s about being my best for this team right now in this moment. I know my business will take care of itself and so and been in it before, experienced and just controlling what I can right now.”

Prescott admits that he took the protracted contract negotiations with the Cowboys personally the last time.

As a former fourth-round pick, he was fighting for respect and being valued among his peers at the position.

Now that the four-year, $160 deal he signed in 2021 is coming to an end, he has taken himself out of the equation.

But he raised more than a few eyebrows when he said money was not the motivating factor.

“I don’t play for money,” Prescott said. “Never have never cared for it to be honest with you. Would give it up just to play this game.”

Prescott also had intentions of playing for free and he allowed that his agent has to do right by his colleagues to get him contract that reflects his value.

According to some pundits, Prescott could command a contract worth as much as $60 million annually, which would make him the highest paid player in the NFL history. There is no question that the baseline for any potential deal starts at $52 million annually.

“I allow that to the business people to say what it’s worth what they’re supposed to give a quarterback of my play, a person of my play, a leader of my play,” Prescott said. “For me, it’s about as I said control what I can control and handle that part and the rest will take care of itself.”

Prescott not threatened by Trey Lance

Prescott’s unresolved contract situation has put him in situation where is conceding reps and wisdom to his potential replacement in third-string quarterback Trey Lance.

The Cowboys traded a fourth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers last August to acquire Lance, a 2021 first-round pick, as a possible backup or future heir to Prescott.

That latter could be as soon as 2025 if the team doesn’t sign Prescott to a long-term deal.

Lance’s development this offseason is crucial to the equation.

McCarthy confirmed that the Cowboys will give the bulk of the reps in the preseason to Lance.

Prescott said he has no problem with helping Lance and doesn’t feel threatened by him.

“It’s about bringing others along, and any time I do that, I make myself and find myself better,” Prescott said. “So, just in the sense of helping Trey and talking with Trey, I’m making myself better. I’m more focused on my feet. I’m not going to tell him to do something and then do something opposite and be hypocritical. It holds me more accountable and it’s fun.

At the end of the day, I love watching somebody get better, watching somebody get excited, get the joy that I get when I improve from one day to the next. That’s the way this team is going to get better. That’s the culture we believe we have here.”

Prescott said it’s not hard to root for Lance because he works hard. It makes the competitor in him kick in as well.

He doesn’t worry about outside focus on Lance that will surely grow if plays well in the preseason.

“He’s pushing me. I can tell you that,” Prescott said. “I don’t like to let other people get more reps than me. Trae’s the person I’ve got to watch because he’s trying to get up there in rep count ... As long as he’s getting better, I promise you I’m getting better. I encourage it. I hope he pushes me. I hope he makes people think. I know who I’ll be and I know who I am and confident in the person and player that I am. I hope he pushes me.”