Dak Prescott Jokes He's at Cowboys Camp 'So I Don't Get Fined' amid Contract Talks
July 25, 2024
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott channeled his inner Marshawn Lynch when speaking to reporters on Thursday.
"I'm just here so I don't get fined," Prescott joked when asked about his participation in training camp despite his lack of a long-term contract, per NFL Network's Jane Slater.
While Prescott also said that he wants to stay with the Cowboys long-term, he left the door open for a potential departure:
Calvin Watkins @calvinwatkinsDak Prescott said he wants to play for the Cowboys long term, however, "I want to be here (but) all the other great quarterbacks played for other teams." Prescott said he's "free" in his thoughts about playing for someone else. He said he became playing in Dallas. <a href="https://t.co/TDbf3FPwWs">pic.twitter.com/TDbf3FPwWs</a>
Cowboys wideout CeeDee Lamb is currently absent in training camp due to his desire for a contract extension of his own. Lamb is subject to a $40,000 fine each day he misses camp, although Dallas can choose to waive any accrued fines (h/t Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram).
Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News reported on Saturday that the Cowboys are putting Lamb's contract extension talks ahead of Prescott's. However, that doesn't mean that the three-time Pro Bowl signal-caller doesn't have a long-term future in Dallas.
Although Prescott is set to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2024 campaign, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones doesn't believe that the upcoming season will be the quarterback's final year with the team.
"I don't think so," Jones said on Thursday (h/t Bobby Kownack of NFL.com). "Just to be very specific, I do not think that this will be his last year with the Cowboys at all. … It's pretty clear, I think, I wouldn't say it if it hadn't been clear, of how much we appreciate what Dak Prescott has meant to this team in a positive way."
While Trevor Lawrence signed a five-year extension worth $275 million with the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier in the offseason, Prescott is far from the only quarterback searching for a long-term deal in training camp.
ESPN's Rob Demovsky reported that Green Bay Packers signal-caller Jordan Love won't appear in preseason games or practice until he receives an extension. Meanwhile, Tua Tagovailoa was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday as he's in the midst of contract negotiations with the Miami Dolphins, per ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques.
After Prescott paced the NFL with 36 touchdown passes during his 2023 campaign, Jones could be waiting for other extension announcements to be made before attempting to sign the former fourth-round pick.
NFL @NFLDak and CeeDee wasting no time with an opening drive TD<br><br>📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PHIvsDAL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PHIvsDAL</a> on NBC<br>📱: Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLPlus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLPlus</a> <a href="https://t.co/YCEDNi5Ozb">https://t.co/YCEDNi5Ozb</a> <a href="https://t.co/aOxzGl0RQE">pic.twitter.com/aOxzGl0RQE</a>
In the meantime, Prescott will continue to show up to practice and prepare for the 2024 season.