Everything Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said after leading his team to a 33-17 win at Cleveland a nd signing a record-setting four-year $240 million contract prior to the game.
What does it mean to receive your new contract followed with a Cowboys win?
“Great, great team win. Great team effort. We can be better on offense. The defense did a hell of a job. Super exciting start on the road, a place that we weren’t very good in last year against a team that was great at home last year. Last year is last year, but to turn the page and to start this year the way we did was huge. For me personally,good to honestly just finish these questions, and I hope after today we are done talking about it and my pockets I guess you can say, and to just move forward and focus on this team and the success that we plan to have and what we’re working toward.”
How did you balance your contract and getting ready for the game?
“When I told you guys Thursday that I was focused on this game, that was the truth. I had one other conversation with my agent after meeting with you guys Thursday and it was essentially that, yeah they’re working, they’re working hard. Can’t say they were close at the time that I talked to them, but what I’ve said and alluded to back in training camp and in the spring, my confidence in both sides in this that something would get done. Understanding that they were hammering at it, that I had confidence in it, but it really wasn’t in my mind. For me, it was really about getting ready for the Browns. Whether it got done today or not wasn’t going to affect me honestly. I’ve told you guys before that I don’t play for the money. I think when you focus and you control what you can control things like that just happen. I found out about 20 minutes before it was publicized to everybody else.”
So you and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones weren’t playing the media last week?
“No, I’m not trying to play anybody (laughter). No, not at all. In negotiations, one side wants something, the other side wants this. Obviously, you meet in the middle. That’s what we did. That’s something that works for everybody. Just happy that it’s done. Proud of my agent. Todd (France) did a great job. (Cowboys Executive Vice President,CEO, and Director of Player Personnel) Stephen (Jones) did a great job. It works for everyone. When you look into the details, yeah, it works for everyone and understanding where this cap is going. I’m just excited that it’s behind us and we can focus on winning games.”
What were you doing and who were you with when you found out about your new contract?
“I was in my room. Zeke (RB Ezekiel Elliott) and (TE) Luke (Schoonmaker) were there, just getting body work. Todd had FaceTimed me, a little emotional call from the both of us. I put some pressure on him I guess you can say and he definitely delivered. Yeah, it was a great call. Then we called the rest of my marketing agents, financial teams and just said it’s behind us. Dak’s moving forward, focused on the game. It was about a five-minute call there. Then I called SJ, saw SJ and MJ, then after that I talked to my Dad and sent some text messages.”
What do you mean you put pressure on your agent?
“I wouldn’t say I put pressure on him. I guess I said that [laughter]. Honestly, I put pressure on him to get this behind me, whether I was getting it done or whether I was playing the season without it. It wasn’t necessarily pressure of ‘I need this, go do this’. Honestly, I wanted to stop answering your guys’ questions. I love you guys, you are all fun, but I don’t care to talk about money. That was the only annoyance in this ordeal is having to answer questions over andover and time and time again about the negotiations. I just wanted that behind me. If it meant me not being here,which I did not want to think about, I said that over and over again. I just wanted to be at peace with whatever the decision was. As I said, glad that like I’ve said and alluded to before, wanted to be a Cowboy, wanted to stay a Cowboy, and not think about anywhere else. Just happy that it got done for all of us.”
What if the deal didn’t get done today?
“The deal is done. No, there was no timetable, honestly. Yeah, I didn’t necessarily have a timetable. It just got people talking about it, right? I know I said there would be feelings whether it got done or didn’t get done. Then I told you,which was true, feelings change. No, there really wasn’t. If you would have asked me this yesterday, I would have said I was going in the game without one, that didn’t mean the contract talks was going to end, but I was just goingto focus on what I could control.”
Does the new contract add any pressure?
“I put the most pressure on myself. Simple as that. I’m not happy with my personal performance today and that’s what motivated me. That’s what pushes me. You try to be –I say try –try to be bummed about in the locker room, but it’s a win on the road which is good for the team and you have teammates telling you ‘It was a hell of day for you.’ I put the most pressure on myself. Nobody is a bigger critic than I am personally. I expect greatness out of myself, my standards and my expectations and the same for this team. There is not added pressure”
What didn’t you like about your performance?“
Just sloppy second half, Just didn’t get going in the second half. Obviously in the first half, we did pretty well. Took a sack early, but other than that, we moved the ball and we got opportunities, we just couldn’t convert on third downs. That something that we’ve been great at, something we take a lot of pride in converting on third downs, had a couple of 3-and-outs in the second half that made that team think they had a chance to come back in this game,and put a little pressure on our defense, but as I credited them to begin with, they played a hell of a game, and withstood it all and obviously we got some field goals when you have a kicker like that, that helps. Credit to Butter (KBrandon Aubrey). I can be better in a lot of ways in this game.”
You said this past week that you thought you and CeeDee would be ready. How do you think your rapport was with CeeDee?
“Yeah, I told you when you’ve got a great player like that, they make it easy for you. The goal ball, I don’t know how many of those we’ve had in the last week, but not many. Missed on a few this week in practice, but to convert on that early in the game, big momentum. Found ways to get him the ball and get sweeps. That’s just a guy that we’ve got to continue to make sure we are getting him catches. He’s electric. He makes that easy for me and the whole him being gold. I just tell him to run fast. There was one right there in the second possession of the third quarter.Great route, great decision by him if it doesn’t get tipped at the line, he probably scores a touchdown there. We’re right there. We’re close.”
Did you ever say to Jerry (Jones) what took so long to get this done?
“No not at all. It could have been me. I know my part in this whole deal and that’s where negotiations come. I understand the business point blank. I understand the business – the game is a business. I’ve said it before that I didn’t take anything personal. I wasn’t upset about where we were in the talks. Wouldn’t have been upset if it didn’t get done today, so no.”
Can you speak to what this defense was able to do against Deshaun Watson in Cleveland?
“Yes, it’s a defense that frustrated me all camp long. We had our days against them, but they had their days against us. Their strength is confusing the quarterback and you can do that for a split second. When you have the pass rush that you have it’s awesome. I just think about playing Zimm (Mike Zimmer) for a long time and you’re never going to put up a lot of points on Zimm. So now that he’s on our side, it feels good just knowing that we go in there and we do our job, and more time than not, it’s going to be enough. Excited just to move forward. That’s just one down, but excited to get back home next week and get the second one.”
What does it say about CeeDee Lamb to have not been present for any of the Oxnard Camp but to come out and play like he did today?
“Yeah, he’s a professional. That’s the first thing that pops out to me. I saw him, and I think we all saw him working on social media. The guy was working the whole time when we’re in training camp to make sure that he’s able to come out here game one and do that. There were a couple plays in the first half where he was three, four plays in a row. That right there is a testament to his conditioning to what he puts into it and him going to be prepared and he was more than that. He’ll continue to build. This is just the beginning for the both of us in that sense and where we can go.”
I know you don’t dwell on this but, highest paid player in NFL history. When you hear that for a second, that’s not terrible is it?
“I told you guys I had an obligation to the league and to the other quarterbacks, and so honestly one of the guys in the locker room, they’re expecting Rolexes from me or some watches or something. Everybody is trying to give me their wrist size. They mention the highest paid and I go ‘Yeah because I’m a quarterback,’ so to that, it’s because I was up. And the next guy, expect to be me. That’s the way the league is going. It’s a credit to this game, a credit to the owners. Credit to the Commissioner. Obviously credit to the players of just working and building this game. I think when you’re able to do this with these contracts and TV contracts and getting international. All that plays apart in it. So for me it just means that I was up next. That’s why I say just focus on what you can. Control what you can. The rest of the stuff takes care of itself.”
You said on Thursday that you want to be the QB who wins it here. Now that you know you’re here for the next four years, what’s the mentality?
“All my motivation. Hold up my part of this deal and just deliver that. That’s my motivation. Right now, it’s about celebrating this win tonight. A helluva win with these guys. Excited for this plane ride back with them, but turning the page tomorrow and getting on to the Saints and taking it one game at a time. That’s what’s at the forefront of my mind. Not the money. It’s about holding up my end of the deal, and that’s winning. And I want to do it here.”
Is there anything you can share about the conversation with Jerry since the deal has been done?
“I mean he called me after. [He] obviously congratulated me. [I] thanked him. He said ‘You know I want you to be the quarterback here,’ and he said for his time. So I’m giving the guy longer than four years obviously, so he’s insinuating we’re doing another contract. He said obviously the player, but he also said the person, and that meant a lot. Like I said, I just want to hold up my end of the deal and deliver for him.”
Jerry spoke with you before practice yesterday. What do you remember from that conversation?
“I mean he said let’s surprise the world, and it somewhat surprised me, but it got done. That was really it. It was short and sweet and he said let’s get this thing behind us and it just gave us confidence that they were trying to getthis done and that we were trying to meet in the middle. Obviously it did, and I am blessed and thankful.”
You took that first sack pretty early. How did it feel to take that hit after avoiding them in the offseason?
“It was a nice one. I came to the sideline and I said I needed that. After that, you are just ready to go. You are ready to play. I think I held it too long. I think there was a route there with Jake [Ferguson]. We just gotta be on the same page. I do not know if it was fast or if it was too early in the game, or if my clock was fast or slow. But I stepped up ready to cross and I got hit. That is a guy that does not give up that many sacks, probably the only one of the year and I’ll take it. It is all good.”
You had two new guys on the line. How did they play on the road in a hostile environment?
“Those two kids, actually guys because I do not want to call them kids, two men. Each and every day they grow up more and more. One, the responsibility. Cooper Beebe is built for this and running an offensive line and setting the tempo there. Understanding the tempo of what I expect in the huddle and how we break the huddle and put pressure on the defense. A guy like Tyler [Guyton] loves football. He loves his teammates and does not want to let anyone down. There was times where guys like Myles Garrett, one of the best in the game, got around him and he is whispering to me, ‘My fault. I gotta move on.’ And he does, wiping the slate clean and fought hard tonight. Two guys I am super proud of and I am looking forward to many more games with them.”
What did you think about the running game, as many guys touched the ball?“
It is important to get our playmakers the ball. I have talked about it for time and time again, but in the McCarthy offense, we want to get guys the ball on jet sweeps, smokes, or even handing it off to them. We have a couple back,and we knew we were gonna hit you with all of them. And to see those guys support one another to make a big play is awesome. All of them want to make a great play when given the opportunity. All of them are hungry for more,trust me a couple of them are telling me to hand it off to them on third and longs. I told them we’d get out quick and I’d throw it to them on the check down. It is about getting these players the ball, and credit to the O-line up front honestly. They did a great job allowing us to get big plays and have a solid day.”
How does it feel to be reunited with Zeke and share this special moment with him?
“It was special. He was the first guy I hugged after getting the news honestly. I think about a guy who took care of me for the first couple of years when you talk about finances. He did. You know when we were partying, dinners, and whatever he did. He was a guy who never let me pull out my wallet as he always paid for me. For him to be there in that moment made it even more special.”
What is the concern level of Jake Ferguson as he had to leave today’s game. What would you miss without him?
“Not even gonna begin to talk about what we would miss. I think we dodged a big one. Obviously he has to get some X-rays tomorrow, but talking to him, he gave me a lot of confidence that he will be okay. He will be able to respond whether it is nothing or a couple of weeks. I cannot even think what we would miss without him. His mentality, what he brings to the game. Where we’ve grow in our connection, we will be fine. He will be fine. He gave me the news, so I am just gonna try and think on that and get him back out there as quick as we can.”
What was the best reaction with one of your teammates when it came to your contract extension?
“Whether it was Malik Davis or the running backs trying to tell everybody to get their wrist size to me. There was [KaVontae] Turpin telling me I want $1,500 a week.”
For What?“
Cause he’s Turpin. But a lot of congratulations and more of those than anything. And I am blessed to be these guys quarterbacks and be the quarterback here, and I am excited for next week.”
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