Cowboys Jerry Jones Sets High Bar For Dak Prescott Contract Justification: Troy Aikman?

In the wake of making quarterback Dak Prescott the highest-paid player in NFL history, Dallas Cowboys owner general manager tried to tap dance Tuesday morning around the deal's justification. But, because he's Jerry after all, he nonetheless wound up establishing a standard that feels simultaneously obvious, fair and wholly irrational.

On his weekly radio show on 105.3 The Fan , Jones was asked if Prescott had to lead the Cowboys to a Super Bowl for the historic four-year, $240 million contract extension to be considered a success.

"I'm going to consider that a hypothetical, because I'm not going to give you a straight answer to a pretty good question," Jones said. "But I will say this: When we made Troy Aikman the highest-paid player in the NFL, we won Super Bowls."

If Aikman is indeed the bar, Dak had better get to jumping. By his ninth season, Troy had three rings and wound up in the Hall of Fame.

In 1993, Aikman signed a contract making him the richest player in NFL history: eight years, $50 million. Prescott's new contract will pay him $60 million ... per season .

"It's Dak's leadership and experience," Jones said when asked why he remained confidence that his quarterback could end the team's 28-season Super Bowl drought. "We've seen him make the plays and adjustments. He's done the kinds of things in games, and in seasons, that will allow him to quarterback the Dallas Cowboys to a Super Bowl. There's no doubt in my mind about that."

Jones shrugged off criticism of costing himself money by agreeing to a Prescott deal "too late." A year ago, he might have been able to sign the quarterback to a contract that averaged closer to $50-55 million per season.

"But what if you're not right? What if you're wrong and you shouldn't have extended the contract?" Jones said. "You say it's late in the game, but this is a beauty pageant more than a tangible final score. Have we ever extended a contract a year or two too soon and then been criticized? You bet we have."

Jones was giddy about his team's convincing Week 1 win in Cleveland, and said the often contentious negotiations with Prescott have been smoothed over.

Related: Cowboys Quarterback of the Future: Dak Prescott Over (Whew!) Shedeur Sanders

Said Prescott during an ESPN interview with Aikman last weekend: "I understand Jerry is going to be Jerry and sometimes make comments that easily could make me mad."

Countered Jones on Tuesday, "I've never had an experience in negotiations where money didn't soothe the hurt feelings."