Dak Prescott Under Police Investigation in Cowboys Sexual Assault at Strip Club Case; NFL Reaction?
FRISCO - Police are investigating a claim that Dak Prescott sexually assaulted a woman outside a strip club in February 2017, the Dallas Police Department confirmed to CowboysSI.com, all an extension of the Dallas Cowboys quarterback having this week filed a $100 million lawsuit against against his accuser, claiming she is behind an "extortion plot.''
The woman filed the complaint report on Tuesday - seven years after the alleged incident - saying the quarterback assaulted her in the back of an SUV in the parking lot of a strip club.
And the NFL is surely watching.
"Mr. Prescott, a new father to a baby girl, has great empathy for survivors of sexual assault," Prescott’s attorney, Levi McCathern, said in a statement. "He fervently believes that all perpetrators of such crimes should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
"To be clear, Mr. Prescott has never engaged in any nonconsensual, sexual conduct with anyone. Lies hurt. Especially, malicious lies. We will not allow the defendant and her legal team to profit from this attempt to extort millions from Mr. Prescott."
Countered Bethel Zehaie, attorney for accuser Victoria Shores: "(Prescott) is a liar and a rapist.''
Prescott stated in his lawsuit that attorneys for the accuser sent a letter to him in January demanding $100 million in exchange for her staying quiet about her accusations regarding an incident that allegedly took place in the parking lot at XTC Cabaret strip club.
The woman's attorney said Prescott has acknowledged being with the woman on the night in question. McCathern has confirmed that the pair remained amicable over time.
And what does the NFL have to do with any of this?
The outcome of the police investigation, and the court case, could help the NFL decide whether it wants to hand out its own punishment. In fact, due to a clause in the CBA approved by the NFL Players Association, an NFL player doesn't even need to have been found guilty to receive punishment, as the Cowboys know full-well given their experience with Ezekiel Elliott and his six-game suspension.
Elliott was once accused of domestic violence, but was never proven to be guilty. Nevertheless, in 2017, Elliott served a six-game NFL suspension.
So yes, the NFL is watching. Prescott's pristine reputation as a good NFL citizen - he was selected the league's Man of the Year in 2022 - might help him with the commissioner's office. And of course being able to establish his innocence would in theory clear him with the league. ... but not necessarily.
-