Why Mike McCarthy, Dak Prescott say Dallas Cowboys players’ trash talk is no big deal

Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy says the furor about the trash talking between cornerback Trevon Diggs and quarterback Dak Prescott is much ado about nothing.

He says trash talk between players has been going on in the NFL in practice and the locker room since he came into the league and it’s certainly been a staple in Dallas since he was hired as coach in 2020.

“Trash talking is part of our environment,” McCarthy said. “I don’t referee that. It goes on in the lunch line. This is not like this is something new. It’s been going on as long as I’ve been in this league. It’s just part of our culture and guys competing.”

McCarthy also disagrees with the assertion that Diggs using profanity to address Prescott shows a lack of respect for the quarterback and leader of the team.

“The fact that they do talk so hard to each other, it shows the connection,” McCarthy said. “So to me it’s it’s a complete opposite. When you’re competing and it’s like your brother, no one goes harder against your brother than you.

“I think it shows their connection is tighter when they go out to each other harder.”

Prescott said the viral reaction is an example of some people not having experience in a competitive environment. He agrees with McCarthy said it’s an example of their close relationship.

“It’s honestly one of those things that you realize not a lot of people have competed or been in very heated competitions, whether it be with their family or with their brother, friend, teammate,” Prescott said. “I’m the youngest of three boys. Words or just words. When you love somebody and you know who they are, you compete against them in everything you do, rock-paper, scissors, card games, football, you name it. Yeah, you’ve got emotions and you’ve got feelings about it.

“Words don’t hurt me, never have hurt me. I encourage it. Honestly.”

Diggs said the trash talking makes practice fun. It’s just them competing. And it’s no indication of a lack fo respect for his quarterback.

“Dak is the leader of our team,” Diggs said. “I have the utmost respect for Dak. I love Dak to death.”

Prescott said people are blowing the exchange out of proportion because of the mindset of the quarterback being the untouchable leader of the team.

Other quarterback might be like that.

But that’s not he leads in Dallas.

He admits he starts most of the trash talk in the locker room to encourage a competitive environment, while opening the door for players to treat him like every one else.

“That’s a form of my leadership,” Prescott said. “I open the door and make people feel comfortable to talk trash to me and that’s why I start it. I’m encouraging these guys and I know some of these guys need that to play their best. I like to know my teammates more than just their jersey number and who they are.

“People aren’t going to put me in a box or try to paint me the way that they want to paint me because I play a position only because of what I do. I am who I am and I will always stand on that.”