Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott’s poor reputation in big games and his reoccurring tendency to shrink mightily in the playoffs remains a hot topic in Dallas.
Despite being a reliable and at times impressive regular season quarterback, Prescott’s struggles in January are impossible to ignore.
He has never advanced past the divisional round of the postseason and owns a concerning 2-5 career playoff record.
Not many people would consider Prescott a truly “elite” quarterback. He’s on the next level down, at best.
All of this plays into why Jerry Jones and the Cowboys have yet to sign Prescott to a long-term contract extension.
Jones and the organization admittingly want Prescott to remain a Cowboy for life. They may end up working something out. But the fact they haven’t yet is a tad revealing.
Speaking of Dallas quarterbacks, the legendary Troy Aikman is one of the best players to ever don the famous star of America’s Team.
Following his spectacular playing career, Aikman has gone on to lead an equally spectacular broadcasting career. There’s not a single NFL analyst who “tells it like it is” more than Aikman.
While a lot of analysts are concerned with offending players with criticism, Aikman doesn’t care … If you deserved to be called out, he’ll call you out. Period.
So, what does Aikman think of Prescott as he’s set to enter the final year of his contract unless an extension is worked out??
Well, as it turns out, Aikman is still a believer in #4…
“I still believe in Dak,” Aikman recently told Mike Fisher of Athlon.com. “I think that until you do it, there’s always those criticisms. I know Peyton Manning went through that… and then you look back on it now and you can’t imagine that anyone would question whether or not he could win a playoff game.”
Aikman’s comparison to Manning, who didn’t win his first playoff game until his sixth season and claimed his first Super Bowl victory in his ninth season, highlights the potential for Prescott’s postseason success despite his current struggles.
Having said that, comparing Prescott to Manning is quite reckless and irresponsible.
Aikman also spoke about the organization’s ongoing playoff struggles. The way last season ended against the Green Bay Packers is a nightmare that won’t be going away soon for any Dallas fan.
However, Aikman knows the Cowboys are completely committed to ultimately getting over the hump…
“I just know that the people in the building want to win more than anyone outside the building,” he said. “Whatever the decisions are that are made and however the team performs, they’re doing everything they can to play their best.”
Prescott and the Boys did welcome back a familiar face to Dallas this week when they signed running back Ezekiel Elliott after his uneventful year in New England.
Just how much Zeke has left in the tank remains to be seen. However, that concern didn’t damper Dak’s enthusiasm over the reunion.
“Super excited. Just obviously knowing our history, my experience with him as a brother, but, in this case, as a teammate, understanding what he brings to the team,” Prescott said. “Just the locker room alone, the culture he sets, a guy that does everything the right way from, from the locker room to the field.”
What are your thoughts on Aikman’s optimism for Prescott and the Cowboys?
Do you trust that they will be able to get over the hump?
At the end of the day, what’s going to happen with Dak? … Will the two sides work out an extension before the season?
Or will 2024 be Prescott’s final year in a Cowboys uniform???