Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been clear about his expectations for this year’s team all offseason.
After changes in personnel and throughout the coaching staff, Jones believes his team is set to compete in the NFC and fight for its first Super Bowl title since 1996 — amplifying those expectations to NBC Sports’ Peter King.
“I know how hard it is to win one of those [a Super Bowl],” Jones told King. “You shouldn’t give up the ghost because you fall short in a highly competitive league. Just because we haven’t won it in so long doesn’t make what we’ve done meaningless. And I think this year we’re in a better position to win it than we have been in years. We have the team, and we have the quarterback.”
The defensive improvements over the last few years have turned the Cowboys into a consistent playoff team, but many national experts have been torn on whether Dak Prescott can lead the team to that Super Bowl title.
“I told Micah Parsons, ‘This defense is real, but Dak is still your quarterback,'” ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said on First Take on Tuesday morning. “And there is where the problem lies.”
Smith believes the offensive scheme changes and turnover in personnel, specifically the departure of tight end Dalton Schultz, will ultimately lead to more mistakes from Prescott.
“…On one hand, you’re saying, ‘My offensive coordinator is not with us anymore, Kellen Moore, so we’re going to run the football more, milk the clock, [and] spare the defense a little bit,” he added. “On the other hand, because you’re not secure with that tight end, you’re going to put more air under the ball because you’re going to throw that bad boy… You’re going to be relying on Dak Prescott even more, and it ain’t going to work.”
Still, others have come to the quarterback’s defense, acknowledging the recent shortcomings yet not attributing all the blame on the 30-year-old signal-caller.
“I think, frankly, the knock on him — and if you asked Dak, he’d probably understand it — is twofold,” former NFL tight end and current Fox analyst Greg Olsen told The Rich Eisen Show. “You’re playing quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. I think expectations and spotlight don’t get any bigger in sports than that position and that franchise.”
“Secondly, and I think this is the part that’s justified, it seems like in those playoff moments, things just fall short,” Olsen continued. “I think he knows it. I think he’s aware of it. I don’t think necessarily all those playoff losses fall on his shoulders. There’s obviously throws and decisions … he’d love to do over, but I think he’s played more than top-tier football.”
While media and fans may be split on the 30-year-old signal-caller, Jones and the Cowboys have remained confident in his abilities to help them achieve their goals, despite his recent struggles. With everything seemingly in place around him, it is time for Prescott to show what kind of quarterback he really is in crunch time.
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EXTRA POINTS
— The Cowboys have yet to decide if some preseason stars will play in the preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday.
— The Indianapolis Colts have given star running back Jonathan Taylor permission to seek a trade.
— Seattle Seahawks rookie wide receiver and Rockwall native Jaxson Smith-Njigba will have wrist surgery to fix a broken bone. Smith-Njigba was a first-round draft pick after a standout career at Ohio State and still may be able to play at the beginning of the season.
— The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have named Baker Mayfield their starting quarterback to open the season. Mayfield beat out Kyle Trask for the opportunity to replace Tom Brady.
— The Washington Commanders defeated the Baltimore Ravens, 29-28, on Monday night, ending Baltimore’s 24-game preseason winning streak.
