Cowboys Quarterback Dak Prescott has apologized after praising fans who threw items at NFL officials after the Cowboys fell to the 49ers on Sunday.
Prescott collided with a referee during the last play of the game, running down the clock and leaving the Cowboys unable to execute a potentially game-winning toss.
As NFL rules dictate, an official has to spot the ball before a play can begin. The officials announced that the game was over to a disappointed and frustrated stadium.
Fans threw garbage at the referees as they attempted to exit the field through the tunnel. Prescott was unaware of this and was told later that the fans were throwing the items at Cowboys players.
During the press conference afterward, Prescott stated, “I understand words and the word ‘fan,’ for fanatic. But to know everything we put into this, day in and day out, tried our hardest, nobody comes into the game wanting to or expecting to lose. For people to react that way when you’re supposed to be a supporter and be with us through thick and thin, that’s tough.”
It was clear that Prescott disapproved of fans throwing trash at his fellow players. However, one reporter informed Prescott that the fans were actually throwing items at the officials. He then flipped his stance on the matter, saying that the fans deserve “credit” for their actions.
For this, Prescott caught some flack. Among various others, the NBA Referees Association chimed in, stating, “As an NFL leader, he should know better. We encourage the NFL to take action to discourage this deplorable behavior in the future.”
The NFL has yet to take any significant disciplinary action towards Prescott. He apologized via Twitter, stating that his emotions got the best of him and it was a mistake.
“I hold the NFL Officials in the highest regard and have always respected their professionalism and the difficulty of their jobs. The safety of everyone who attends a game or participates on the field of a sporting event is a very serious matter… That was a mistake on my behalf, and I am sorry,” Prescott says. He added that his words were “uncalled for and unfair.”