FRISCO, Texas — Time is winding down before the Dallas Cowboys and franchise quarterback Dak Prescott can come to an agreement on a contract extension before the start of the season, as Prescott is fresh off making his "says a lot if it is or isn't" comment last week in regards to Sunday's soft deadline.
While he did say on Thursday that he "can't say I have the same feelings I had last week" in regards to getting a deal done before Sunday, he did say that there could be a relief in getting it done to wipe away any outside distractions going into the season.
"Maybe from a team aspect, yeah," Prescott said. "You know, I've always talked about how present I can be, but understanding not everyone is capable of doing that. There could definitely be some benefit in that. But at the end of the day, it's a lot that entails moving parts of a contract. I know both sides are working."
It's no breaking news or secret that the two sides are working, but is there a sense of urgency behind that work to get it done before the season kicks off?
"I'd say they're working," he said. "I don't know if that's necessarily the timeline. I can't say I'll put a timeline to Todd and Stephen if we don't get this done, this or that, but I know they're working."
Speaking of work, Prescott said he will "still be working" if the Cowboys and his representation can't come to an agreement before the start of the season. For him, there is still a big goal in mind that applies to this season and any potential campaign past 2024.
"That's what motivates me on being here, honestly, to be the quarterback who does it," Prescott said. "Who wins it. I don't think winning it in any other place would be the same as winning it here. That is A-No. 1 in wanting to be here, to be honest with you."
There's a sense of camaraderie within the locker room going into this pivotal season towards the franchise's future direction, as Prescott isn't the only one heading into a contract year. Whether it be veterans like Zack Martin, DeMarcus Lawrence and Brandin Cooks or role players like Osa Odighizuwa and Jourdan Lewis, a large handful of players can put themselves in Prescott's shoes from an expiring contract standpoint.
"Everybody, if we all look personally into the last year of our deal, it's going to create a little bit of that," he said. "But when you look to the left or right and there's so many people in that situation, I think it makes it a little bit easier to lock in and wrap those arms around each other and say this is on us to change that, to make it different, to be here next year."
Even in the spirit of a new year starting in mere days for Prescott and the Cowboys, all of the outside focus remains on just that: next year and beyond. But for him and those around him heading into Sunday, Mike McCarthy's "Rooted" message might be exactly what's needed.
"Thought it was amazing," Prescott said. "A guy that talks about being present where my feet are, it goes to my roots. It goes to my mom. It goes to my brothers. It's why I love this game. This game is rooted in me."
