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The goal for Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott hasn’t changed after signing a record-setting $240 million extension.
Prescott told reporters following Sunday’s 33-17 win over the Cleveland Browns that winning a Super Bowl is “my only motivation.”
“Hold up my part of this deal. Just deliver that. That’s my motivation,” he said. “Right now it’s about celebrating this win tonight. Hell of a win with these guys, excited for this plane ride back with them, but then turning the page tomorrow, getting on to the Saints and taking it one game at a time. That is what is at the forefront of my mind. Not the money. It’s about holding up my end of the deal. And I want to do it here.”
Prescott’s long-term future in Dallas was one of the biggest offseason stories surrounding the team. He was set to become a free agent in 2025 and losing him to free agency would’ve been a massive blow for the Cowboys.
Negotiations went up to the 11th hour as Sunday brought news the two sides agreed to a four-year pact that will pay Prescott the highest average salary ever ($60 million) in the NFL.
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“Like him or not, Dak is the guy. He will be the guy.” <a href=”https://twitter.com/JimmyJohnson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@JimmyJohnson</a> shares his thoughts on the <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cowboys?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Cowboys</a> signing QB Dak Prescott to a 4-year contract extension ⬇️ <a href=”https://t.co/ktFoHpn4zw”>pic.twitter.com/ktFoHpn4zw</a>
Being the starting quarterback for the Cowboys is a heavy burden regardless of how much you’re getting paid, and this isn’t the first time Prescott got a precedent-setting payout in Dallas that raised the level of expectations.
This time is a little different, though, because there’s an added sense of urgency for everyone involved.
Team owner Jerry Jones will turn 82 in October. Prescott is 31 and into his ninth season in the NFL. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who also signed a multiyear extension in the offseason, and edge-rusher Micah Parsons are both in their respective primes.
The Cowboys need to win a Super Bowl within the next four years because who’s to say what their championship window will look like in 2029 and beyond.
For Prescott, his legacy will be on the line. He’s on pace to be the most prolific quarterback in franchise history, having already thrown for the third-most yards (29,638) and second-most touchdowns (203). But failing to have a single championship on his résumé is likely to put him a tier below Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach in the eyes of fans.
