ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith recently stirred the pot with some sharp words about Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Speaking on “First Take,” Smith didn’t hold back, calling Prescott’s massive $82 million contract a burden for the team.
The Cowboys are right now caught up in a tense contract battle with their star linebacker, Micah Parsons, and Stephen A. Smith’s latest comments have definitely turned up the heat. He’s openly wondered if Dak Prescott really deserves to be the NFL’s highest-paid quarterback, especially given the team’s struggles to make a deep playoff run while he’s been under center.
“Two playoff wins in 10 years… that’s how you know you’re overpaying your quarterback,” Smith said bluntly. “That’s how you know you’re not structuring deals right. That’s how you know you’re too busy with pomp and circumstance and the headlines… more focused on the red carpet than competing for a championship. You can say whatever you want, but I’m telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLTRAvNE66k
Smith suggested that the Cowboys’ front office might be more focused on the flashy side of things rather than building a championship-caliber squad. Dak Prescott signed a massive four-year, $240 million extension in 2024, with $231 million guaranteed and an $80 million signing bonus. It’s one of the richest contracts in NFL history. But Smith argued that the Cowboys’ repeated moves to restructure Prescott’s deal have created roughly $82 million in salary cap space — and that this could be limiting their ability to keep other key players on the roster.
Dak Prescott’s comments came off at the wrong time
This timing couldn’t be more delicate. Micah Parsons is one of the NFL’s biggest defensive stars and a four-time Pro Bowler, but things have gotten complicated. He’s asked to be traded after talks about a new contract stalled. Word is, he’s looking for a massive deal—around $200 million—but Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is hesitant. He’s worried about the risks of committing that much money, especially with how unpredictable football can be.
Dak Prescott seems to get it. He knows how stressful these contract negotiations can be and has shown empathy for Parsons’ situation. But with Stephen A. Smith openly criticizing Dak Prescott’s own deal, it’s clear the Cowboys are under a lot of pressure right now. They’ve got to figure out how to pay their stars without hurting the team’s chances overall. With the new season opener against the Eagles coming up fast, the Cowboys have some tough decisions ahead. How they juggle the salary cap and player contracts over the next few weeks could really shape their season—and whether they finally make a real playoff run.
When it comes down to it, this situation really highlights how much the business side of football matters—sometimes just as much as the plays on the field. Managing contracts and money is a tricky balancing act, and it can seriously shape whether a team wins or loses in the long run.
