Cowboys’ Dak Prescott wants a Super Bowl title, legacy ‘be damned’ – Todd Archer, ESPN

The Cowboys signal-caller is focused on getting the organization its sixth Super Bowl.

Dak Prescott is entering his 10th season as the Dallas Cowboys quarterback.

Only Troy Aikman has had a longer run at the position in franchise history. Aikman and Roger Staubach are also the only two quarterbacks that have won a Super Bowl with the Cowboys.

Prescott, who turns 32 next month, is determined to join them but not to cement any kind of legacy.

“Yeah, I want to win a championship,” Prescott said when the Cowboys concluded their offseason program Thursday. “The legacy, the things, whatever comes after I finish playing will take care of itself. I want to win a championship. Be damned if it’s just for my legacy, or if it’s for this team, for my personal being, for my sanity. Yeah, the legacy will take care of itself. I have to stay where my feet are.”

Prescott has delivered the Cowboys to the playoffs five times. The Cowboys have had the best record in the conference one time — his rookie year in 2016 — and played on wild-card weekend the other four times but have not gotten to the NFC Championship Game.

Prescott has a 2-5 playoff record.

For the Cowboys to have that chance, Prescott, who was the runner-up in the MVP voting in 2023 when Dallas finished 12-5 for the third straight season, has to remain healthy. He has missed games due to injury in four of the past five seasons, including nine last year after needing surgery to repair a hamstring avulsion as the Cowboys finished 7-10.

He went through the entire offseason program without an issue and will be fully cleared for contact when training camp begins in Oxnard, California, on July 22.

“These OTAs, just the way that I’ve been seeing minicamp, the communication with [head coach Brian Schottenheimer], with the quarterbacks or the quarterback room, just a lot of good things,” Prescott said. “A lot of really good things that have me in a great place. I’m healthy. Excited as hell.”

The rookie right guard says the offensive line is building chemistry.

Tyler Booker has already made it known he’s a “natural born leader”, but the rookie first-round pick also understands that before he can lead, he must learn to follow. That is why he’s leaned so heavily into learning everything he can from those on the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive line who arrived in the NFL before him, such as Tyler Smith and Terence Steele.

Smith and Steele are tasked by head coach Brian Schottenheimer to lead the charge in helping to coach up the younger talent, e.g., Booker, Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe, particularly in a situation wherein there have also been changes at offensive coordinator and offensive line coach.

Having now worked through rookie minicamp, OTAs and mandatory minicamp, Booker has been a sponge for information, insight and coaching.

“I couldn’t ask for a better room of vets,” said the two-time All-SEC guard out of Alabama. “Like, we’re a younger room, but there’s still a lot of experience within there, so they can relate to what it’s like to be a rookie. Even guys like [Guyton], he’s helped me out a lot — T. Steele, Brock [Hoffman], everybody, literally everybody [including Cooper Beebe].

“I just really appreciate all their guidance along the way, and they’ve definitely made this process easier for me.

Such a mindset bodes well for the rebuilt offensive line in Dallas, one that is only two years removed from the departure of now-retired future Hall of Fame left tackle Tyron Smith, and zero years removed from the retirement of fellow future Hall of Fame right guard Zack Martin.

“We’re building great chemistry,” Booker said of the offensive line. “And like I said earlier, I like having guys with experience right next to me. If I ever have a question right before the snap, they’re able to help me out and lead me in the right direction.”

This was certainly an eye-opener.

For all the defensive stars Eberflus has helped to launch over the years – from DeMarcus Ware and Sean Lee to Shaq Leonard and Kenny Moore – it was actually a player on the other side of the ball that finally cemented his decision to return to the Cowboys for a second stint on their sidelines.

“Really, to me, it was Dak Prescott,” the 55-year-old coordinator told Matt Mosely and Ed Werder on The Doomsday Podcast.

“When he was a rookie, we drafted him here, and what did he go, 9-1 the first 10 games?”

The head man in Dallas got emotional addressing the team at the end of minicamp.

When addressing the players following Thursday’s final walkthrough, Schottenheimer admitted to getting emotional. Because of their commitment to work and their competitive nature showcased throughout the Summer.

“I told ‘em I love ‘em and I got a little emotional,” Schottenheimer said. “These guys gave us everything that we’ve asked for this spring, and I think they’ll do that when we get started out in Oxnard.”

“I think Schotty’s done a great job in minicamp of putting guys in places,” Dak Prescott added about his new head coach. “Putting guys in space and allowing guys to see how he’s going to use them.”

With a big break ahead and Father’s Day this weekend, the completion of Schottenheimer’s first step in his head coaching career holds a little more weight. Bringing fond memories of his late father and NFL coaching legend Marty Schottenheimer to the forefront.

“I know he is proud. I miss him,” Schottenheimer said. “I would tell him that I used all the life lessons that he taught me, not just about football, but about life and being a good man and a good husband and a good father, and that I think I’m doing okay for myself. But I know he is proud. I miss him like crazy.”

Here are a few intriguing nuggets from Cowboys’ minicamp.

DaRon Bland might play in the slot

Based on multiple reports, Bland practiced in the slot for the majority of OTAs and mandatory minicamp. That could foreshadow some serious contract drama as the All-Pro cornerback is entering a contract year and the financial downside to playing inside exists.

We’ll see what the snap distribution looks like when training camp starts and once players such as Shavon Revel Jr. and Caelen Carson are healthy and ready to go. But it looks like Matt Eberflus is looking into moving Bland inside, where his career started four years ago.

Jack Sanborn is likely to start at LB

Speaking of Eberflus’ defense, multiple reporters point to Sanborn as the projected starter at middle linebacker. The former Chicago Bear knows Eberflus’ scheme and even though he was a breakout candidate with the Bears, he’s looking like a starter for the Cowboys.

Once Week 13 comes around—DeMarvion Overshown’s projected return date—the lineup might be shaken up, but right now it looks like Marist Liufau and Sanborn will lead the way.

George Pickens is loving the Cowboys

Pickens didn’t ask to be traded to the Cowboys. Considering the attitude allegations from his days with the Pittsburgh Steelers, that could’ve translated to trouble. But so far, Pickens has been proving to Dallas he wants to be here and he’s committed to learning the offense.

Dak Prescott and Brian Schottenheimer have praised his work ethic and that alone says big things about Pickens, who we all know has the talent to make an impact. It seems his head is in the right space, too.

Williams shared a photo from the team’s mandatory minicamp with top speeds from various positions, and he clocked the second-highest max speed on the team (21.4 mph) behind only CeeDee Lamb (21.9 mph).

If Williams can return to top form and contribute to the pass rushing rotation that also includes Micah Parsons, Dante Fowler, Donovan Ezeiruaku, and Marshawn Kneeland, opposing quarterbacks better be on notice.