Sports

With Dak Prescott's expansion, Cowboys tradition gets on the line

.Todd Archer, ESPN Staff WriterSep 8, 2024, 11:50 AM ETCloseTodd Archer is an NFL media reporter at ESPN as well as deals with the Dallas Cowboys. Bishop has covered the NFL due to the fact that 1997 as well as Dallas considering that 2003. He joined ESPN in 2010. You may observe him on Twitter at @toddarcher. FRISCO, Texas-- Now that Dak Prescott has authorized another mega-contract to be the Dallas Cowboys' beginning quarterback, nevertheless many years he has actually left will concern legacy.He has his loan. Just before signing the most recent deal, he moneyed in much more than $160 million, along with a bit more than $4 thousand on his newbie package (2016-19), $31.4 thousand on the franchise tag in 2020, and also $126 million from 2021 to 2023. As well as he can easily earn $240 thousand on his newest bargain, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.But in order for Prescott to relocate coming from a great statistical quarterback to some of the best in Cowboys past, he has to perform something he has refrained from doing however: come to a Super Bowl. Maybe even succeed it.It is actually not completely reasonable, but those are the standards in Dallas specified by Hallway of Famers Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman.Prescott has actually performed almost whatever else in his initial eight years as the beginning quarterback. He has specified the team record for goal comes on a period (37 ). Due to the edge of following season, he needs to go beyond Tony Romo (34,183) as the franchise business innovator in passing backyards. He is 45 goal passes bashful of Romo's document (247 ). He has won the NFC East four times. He has been actually to the Pro Bowl. In 2023, he possessed his ideal period and also was called All-Pro and also finished second in MVP voting. He was named the champion of the Walter Payton Male of the Year award.Best of NFL Nation u2022 Impressive initiative to send out Packers, Eagles to Brazil u2022 Timetable of Goff's remarkable Cougars resurgence u2022 Saints urgent in Year 3 under Dennis Allen u2022 Rams finding retribution in Detroit u2022 Cowboys, McCarthy observe opportunity in 2024.But he has actually certainly not surpassed the 2nd round of the playoffs, and also the stink coming from the wild-card loss to the Environment-friendly Bay Packers in January still hangs over the whole organization.To perform what he's not done yet, Prescott may be inquired to carry out additional along with less-- partially, as a result of his agreement, although the Cowboys were able to sign CeeDee Lamb to a four-year agreement extension on Aug. 26. Crews with expensive quarterbacks-- like Buffalo grass's Josh Allen, Kansas Urban area's Patrick Mahomes, Cincinnati's Joe Shelter and also the Chargers' Justin Herbert-- have needed to bring in service choices at other positions.The Cowboys at first talked to Prescott to carry out even more with much less in 2018 without a correct No. 1 recipient, and when that carried out certainly not exercise, they traded for pass receiver Amari Cooper, surrendering a first-round choice to the Raiders.Entering his 9th season, Prescott is actually a different quarterback than he was when entering his 3rd. He knows the game more. He understands his video game even more. He knows defenses more.In 2024, he'll need to become far better than he has been actually, as the Cowboys move to a running-back-by-committee approach and the might begin pair of newbies on the annoying line. He needs to have to become better while dealing with a schedule that features 7 activities versus 2023 playoff staffs in the very first 11 weeks.After this season, the Cowboys could look fully different.This could be the last years of franchise business stalwarts defend Zack Martin, a future Hall of Famer, and defensive side DeMarcus Lawrence. If they each depart after this period, Prescott will certainly be the longest-tenured Cowboy, since fellow 2016 draught pick Ezekiel Elliott took an one-year reprieve from Dallas in 2023 for an assignment with the New England Patriots.This offseason, the Cowboys bid farewell to left handle Tyron Johnson, a potential Hall of Famer, center Tyler Biadasz, operating back Tony Pollard and also defensive end Dorance Armstrong, among others, as Dallas prepped for take care of Prescott, CeeDee Sheep and also Micah Parsons. The only significant additions were bringing back Elliott as well as linebacker Eric Kendricks in cost-free agency, as Chamber pot Jones' interpretation of 'all-in' seemed to be different than what a lot of others thought.But Jones is no doubt all-in on Prescott right now, regardless of whether it took some negotiating opportunity to receive there.If Prescott, entering his 9th time, participates in out the offer, he will certainly be the longest-tenured beginning quarterback in franchise history. Aikman was the Cowboys' starter for 12 times, Romo started for 9 and Staubach for eight.Since 1980, the only quarterback to wait longer to go to a Super Bowl for the very first time along with the nightclub that drafted him was Ken Anderson, who remained in his 10th period as Cincinnati's full-time starter. Matt Ryan and Peyton Manning went to their first Super Bowls with Atlanta and Indianapolis, respectively, in their nine times as the full-time starters.That's the difficulty Prescott encounters in describing his heritage on the industry.