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Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer
OXNARD, Calif. – The Dallas Cowboys didn’t ask for sympathy when it came to negotiations with Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons, but they seemed to have some understanding and they were just like time.
“We have a very unique situation,” said executive vice president Stephen Jones. “We have a quarterback, who played at the top of his game last year, second in the MVP vote, who can leave (after this season). Then we have two players who cannot leave … We can sign. one of those people them and both – rightly so – believe they have to be the highest paid players in the league to win. They want to put a ring on their finger, and they know the situation is tough.
The Cowboys held their first training camp practice Thursday without Lamb, the All-Pro wide receiver, who remains in Houston, working out while awaiting a contract. Prescott and Parsons are on hand, but there’s no guarantee they’ll be in Oxnard, Calif., next summer for training camp.
Prescott will become a free agent in March. Parsons will sign a fifth-year option on his rookie deal if he doesn’t sign an extension earlier and could follow Lamb’s plan.
While that may be palpable to those outside the organization, it’s not to coach Mike McCarthy, who is also entering a contract year.
“That’s not how we’re wired,” McCarthy said, adding, “We’re energized by what’s in front of us.”
If Lamb, who is due $17.99 million this year for a fifth-year option, and Parsons, who is under contract control until 2025, find a deal that would make him the highest unpaid player in the league, then the contract would be even- an average of more than $35 million per year. Prescott, who in the last year of the deal that pays him $ 40 million on average, is looking at a deal that can make him the highest paid player in the NFL, north of $ 55 million per season.
Prescott said once training camp begins, his involvement in the talks will end.
“They always have to be paid and they have to make money,” Prescott said. “I’ve got a contract and eventually I’m going to ask them to take less. But it’s a two-way street when you talk about contracts. I’m old. get a decision on this so it’s not just one way here.”
Prescott reiterated his desire to stay with the Cowboys, but admitted he has “obligations” to other quarterbacks and teammates in what he received. If Prescott accepts a new deal with the Cowboys or hits the open market, he will be well-compensated.
In recent years, they have seen Tom Brady leave the New England Patriots for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Aaron Rodgers traded by the Green Bay Packers to the New York Jets.
“I want to be here, but if you look at all the good quarterbacks I’ve seen for other teams,” Prescott said. “So, what I’m saying is, it’s not something to be afraid of. That could be a reality for me one day. It may not be my decision. So the freedom I want is (to be) where your feet are. optimize, be confident, make your team better, I like my teammates and I like that locker room and I like everything in Oxnard and being a Dallas Cowboy, so I can be free and. focus and know that in time what’s coming?”
Owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he’s not worried about Prescott being elsewhere in 2025. He cited contract issues, “business as usual,” and isn’t afraid of “ambiguity,” which comes from the uncertain future of players and coaches.
His focus is on 2024 and ending his 28-year Super Bowl drought. For all the losses in free agency, Jones was quick to point out the 14 Pro Bowlers remain on the current roster despite not having been a significant improvement for the team that lost last January’s wild card round to Green Bay.
“I’d rather win an award for the best way to end the season than I would win an award for showing up to camp with my house,” Jones said. “I’m more worried about ending the season than starting it quickly … I’m very happy because we’ve had 12 (win) seasons, the wins we’ve had in the last few years. The fact that we’ve got our personnel here in camp, I take a lot of consolation that we will be there to get a better chance to go to the playoffs.”
