Dak Contract: Emmitt Questions Cowboys ‘Commitment’ To QB

Dallas Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith is doubting the Cowboys' commitment, or lack thereof, to quarterback Dak Prescott

FRISCO - Maybe Dallas Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith is simply grasping for straws in an attempt to explain something he finds inexplicable: His team’s long-standing inability to forge a long-term contract with quarterback Dak Prescott.

So maybe ...

"The only answer I can give is the Cowboys are uncertain whether or not he's the future of the Cowboys," Smith said to the SB Nation NFL Show.

With all due respect to Emmitt - and working on the assumption that he’s spitballing here rather than revealing an exclusive insight - there are actually a bushel full of reasons why Prescott played on the $31.4 million franchise tag last year ... and why he might end up doing the same in 2021 at $37.7 million. To wit:

*The Cowboys last year offered a five-year, $175 million deal. Dak's agent demanded four years. The two sides did not agree.

*Agent Todd France, as we have reported via sources, preferred to bundle his top free agents together with a plan to wait until this year to sign - thus making him a more attractive hire at his next agency.

*The Cowboys were comfortable letting Dak "prove it'' last year, while Dak was - in his own words - comfortable "betting on myself.''

*And, while some of the above are facts, we could spitball ourselves and wonder if Dallas wants some sort of assurances that his ankle surgery will allow a full recovery.

The Cowboys insist they are fully committed, and that they have no concerns about the ankle, or otherwise. As COO Stephen Jones has said to us, "His makeup is all the right things. He's an amazing man off the field, he's a great leader in our locker room, a great player and that's why we've wanted to sign him long-term.''

The Jones family has stated often that Prescott is "our top priority.''

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Prescott has generally played at a Pro Bowl level since entering the NFL as a fourth-round pick, throwing for 17,634 yards, 106 touchdowns and just 40 interceptions in 69 games. While the Cowboys are obliged to examine every option here - including, in theory, trading Prescott should it be determined he's "un-signable'' - the plan to make him the franchise's centerpiece player seems clear ...

Except for the fact that it hasn't happened yet. Thus, Emmitt's skepticism.

"If he was the complete future of the Dallas Cowboys,'' Smith insisted, "they would make no bones about giving him a contract."

Emmitt does offer one interesting point, that others have broached before, about how the organization never seemed to let signing Dak predecessor Tony Romo to long-term and rich deals.

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"I mean, Tony Romo, they were committed to Romo right off the rip," Smith said. "Right off the rip. And ... he's not the biggest guy. He's not the ... flashiest guy and he's not the fastest guy, either. And he had his challenges. But there was a commitment to Tony Romo. There is not a commitment to Dak Prescott."

Is this all true? Is this all fair? Until the Cowboys and Dak Prescott settle their negotiations, there is truth in wondering. There is fairness in questioning.

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