Sift through the Dallas Cowboys’ top storylines leading up to Week 1, and there isn’t much mention of quarterback Dak Prescott.
The contract negotiation stalemate between Jerry Jones and Micah Parsons, and the Cowboys’ Netflix documentary “America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys” have dominated the news cycle surrounding the NFL’s most popular franchise.
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A stark contrast from a year ago when Prescott was embroiled in contract extension negotiations. Now Prescott is entering Year 10 and currently holds the title of highest-paid player in the NFL (in terms of average annual salary).
It’s hard to believe Prescott is a few days away from beginning his 10th season as the Cowboys starting QB. Prescott is 36 touchdown passes away from breaking the franchise record and with 2,747 passing yards this season he’ll become the team’s all-time passing leader.
“Yes, I’m aware of it,” Prescott answered this offseason when asked if he knows of the team records he’s approaching. “I didn’t know of the touchdowns necessarily. I knew the yards were coming upon. I don’t want to stop there. It would be awesome. It’s going to be cool, I should say, but that’s not the end goal. I plan to have many more seasons, touchdowns (and) yards.
“Something that I felt like I should be doing. It would be something that’s cool to have but not anything that weighs on me or that I’ll carry and be like, ‘Job well done on.’”
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Prescott tossed a career-high and league-leading 36 touchdowns in 2023 and has six 3,000-yard passing seasons. He has a decent shot of breaking at least one of the franchise records if he remains healthy this season. The addition of George Pickens to pair with CeeDee Lamb should only bolster his chances.
“You see their ability to separate and contested balls and things like that,” Cowboys first-year coach Brian Schottenheimer said to reporters of Pickens and Lamb. “Those guys, you don’t have to do much to get them open…Those two guys, they just feed off each other. It shows you when you have one on one side and one on the other, it’s pretty daunting for a defense.”
But leading the league in passing yards and breaking franchise records isn’t what motivates the 32-year-old quarterback.
Prescott and the Cowboys watched their NFC East rival, Philadelphia Eagles, win Super Bowl 59. The Eagles have won two Super Bowls since Prescott became the Cowboys starter in 2016. Prescott’s won just two playoff games in that span.
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“Having fun and winning a Super Bowl, period. That’s what I want. That’s what I want from this game, and I know that’s what everyone wants in this locker room. We have a head coach who I know is hungry for it,” Prescott said. “That’s what’s on my mind 10 (years) in and ready to play another 10 (years). I want that first and foremost now. That is the urgency that I carry with the love and the passion of this game, not only wanting to win for myself but wanting to win for this organization. It been damn long enough.”
MORE: Micah Parsons filed grievance over fifth-year option salary
Prescott’s 76 career regular-season wins are the fourth most by any QB in franchise history and he’s registered a 33-8 record against NFC East opponents. Yet he’s part of the Cowboys’ 30-year Super Bowl drought. He’s just 2-5 in the postseason.
“They are gonna criticize him because of the playoff performance, and rightfully so. I love Dak and I’m with him. I’ve been with him. Everybody knows how talented he is. Arm talent, he has everything. He’s real smart, he’s a leader. The leadership is unquestioned. He has his team ready to run through a wall for him,” Lamb said to reporters. “I know we are gonna have a good one this year, though, that’s for sure.”
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What constitutes a good year for the Cowboys?
Not the individual records or the team’s constant presence in the news cycle. It’s dethroning the Eagles on the way to reaching the pinnacle of the sport. Something the Cowboys haven’t done in three decades.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is this the year Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott changes his legacy?
