Cowboys QB Dak Prescott Statement: 'Here's The Truth About My Dinner Party'
FRISCO - Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is catching heat - including from his own team's management - for the weekend dinner party at his home that reportedly featured enough attendees to violate the “stay at home” order in Texas.
But Prescott says his critics have it all wrong.
“I understand and accept that there are additional responsibilities and media scrutiny that come with being an NFL quarterback, but it is very frustrating and disappointing when people provide completely inaccurate information from anonymous sources, especially now,” Prescott said in a statement Tuesday issued to ProFootballTalk.com. “To set the record straight, I know that we all need to do our best to socially distance and like everyone else, I am continuing to adjust to what that requires, but the truth is that I was with fewer than 10 people for a home dinner — not a party — on Friday night.
"I am very sensitive to the challenges we are all facing and making sure to support the first responders and medical personnel and everyone else putting in long hours,'' Prescott said. "We are all at a time when we need to keep educating ourselves about the importance of health and isolation during this pandemic and I will continue to make sure to do my part by following the guidelines until we are approved to start returning to normal activities.”
Prescott's gathering also included teammate Ezekiel Elliott. TMZ.com from the get-together and reported that the event had at one point as many as 30 people in Prescott’s new home in Prosper to celebrate a friend’s birthday party.
The PFT exclusive from Prescott comes shortly after the website wrote that a source insists the QB will sit out the spring unless he gets a new contract, the story closing with the line, "unless the Cowboys finally give Prescott the contract he has earned.''
That's a strong editorial comment in a news story - "strong,'' especially, because the Cowboys have an offer on the table that could make Prescott the highest-paid player in NFL history. (USA Today later also received the Prescott statement.)
Earlier in the day, Cowboys COO Stephen Jones addressed the situation with a public scolding of Prescott and Elliott - another oddity, for if the allegations are completely off-base, Prescott should be less upset with TMZ than he is with his accusatory boss.
"We've certainly communicated with Dak and Zeke, "Jones told 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. “And I think they’re certainly aware now of how sensitive these situations are. I don’t think you’ll be seeing that any more. They are certainly guys we have the utmost respect for. I certainly know they understand the sensitivity of the situation we’re in, it’s certainly very serious, and something we know they understand.”
