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Todd Archer
OXNARD, Calif. — The primary follow of Dallas Cowboys coaching camp ends, and Dak Prescott instantly walks over to the fence behind one of many finish zones.
There, he greets his fiancée, Sarah Jane Ramos, and their daughters, MJ and Aurora, who’s a new child. For quarter-hour Prescott sits together with his household, often chasing a guffawing MJ.
For these transient moments, he isn’t the quarterback of “America’s Staff.” He is only a lady dad.
Again in 2016, his rookie 12 months, Prescott would see Jason Witten play together with his 4 youngsters, together with his sons, C.J. (a freshman linebacker at Rice) and Cooper (additionally a linebacker, and one of many prime prep recruits within the Class of 2027). Prescott was a fourth-round decide simply attempting to get a job, however he ended that summer time because the Cowboys’ beginning quarterback.
Now the longest-tenured Cowboy, Prescott, who turns 32 on Tuesday, has perspective.
“I am getting that true stability,” he mentioned. “I believe it is wholesome. Now after I get to get away from this constructing and get away from right here, my thoughts will get to go away it, the place up to now it did not.
“I believe that may very well be detrimental at occasions. [Now] it is no overthinking issues, pondering an excessive amount of in regards to the belongings you need.”
As Prescott enters 12 months 10, there is only one factor he desires: a Tremendous Bowl. He’s unafraid to say it, regardless of understanding he has a 2-5 postseason document, and the Cowboys haven’t superior to an NFC Championship Sport or gained a Lombardi Trophy since 1995.
He was named the NFL’s Walter Payton NFL Man of the 12 months in 2022. He has made the Professional Bowl thrice. He was the runner-up in MVP voting in 2023. He holds the workforce’s single-season document for landing passes (37), and this 12 months he might grow to be the franchise’s all-time chief in passing yards and touchdowns.
“What I’ve performed or completed actually would not maintain any weight with me, so I can not say not having it weighs me down or something,” Prescott mentioned. “That is the f—ing motivation, proper? That is the reality in your abdomen. That is what’s in your intestine is wanting that.
“That is what pushes me to be higher on daily basis.”
Prescott is wholesome after lacking 9 video games in 2024 due to a proper hamstring avulsion that required surgical procedure. However there will probably be limitations placed on him.
“Now that he is within the over-30 membership, we will be good with a number of the issues we do with him,” coach Brian Schottenheimer mentioned. “He’s anti-that. He desires to do as a lot as doable. Fortunately, we’ve the trump card with him on that. In all seriousness, Dak understands there’s a good solution to practice.
“Though Dak’s not going to love it as a lot, he is very conscious that we will be clever with what he does.”
He would not give each handoff throughout particular person drills with working backs. He would not throw each cross to receivers for on-air drills. When the total offense goes via a sequence of drills over baggage, Prescott is a “hype man,” encouraging all of them in a humorous manner, comparable to performing as if he’s using a horse.
“What I’ve to do is be myself and have enjoyable at follow and revel in my teammates. I used to be advised to not do these drills simply from well being. So, hell, I am not about to sit down there, cross my arms and watch,” Prescott mentioned. “The entire level of the drill is to get some juice going, get the fellows going and get our power excessive to start out follow. If I’ve to be the hype man, that is what I will do.”
Up to now in camp, Prescott has labored extra underneath middle than within the shotgun. Schottenheimer and quarterbacks coach Steve Shimko have made a refined adjustment to Prescott’s footwork when he’s within the shotgun. His “right here we go” cadence stays, however there are different cadences now too.
“This man is a perfectionist. For a man that has the accomplishments and has performed the issues he is performed, he jogs my memory a lot of being round [former NFL QB] Andrew Luck,” Schottenheimer mentioned. “A man that is had nice success however is keen to attempt something you throw his manner. … ‘Hey, coach me onerous. I can try this. Let me present you I can try this.’ I believe it is that willingness and that starvation to [say] ‘Problem me coach. Problem me to do various things.'”
Finally, nonetheless, Prescott will probably be measured by Tremendous Bowls gained or not gained. It is a truth of life he accepted way back.
He would not care that he was not within the top-10 quarterbacks in an ESPN survey of league executives, coaches and scouts.
“Motivated? That is short-term,” he mentioned when requested if not being on the listing motivated him. “I do not assume I’ve ever actually cared a few listing. I used to be, what, the ninth or so man after I was taken [in the draft]. The listing adjustments [for] each particular person you ask. The listing adjustments yearly.
“With accidents, clearly the listing ought to change. As younger, new gamers are available, the listing goes to vary. It is not one thing I actually give weight to. I do know who I’m. I am assured in who I’m. It is about me simply persevering with to get higher, wholesome, and develop — and ensure I am the perfect participant, quarterback and chief I might be for this workforce. That is the listing I care about.”
He was requested what did inspire him now, and his reply lasted almost two minutes. It centered round profitable.
“Ten [years] in and able to play one other 10, however I would like [to win] at the start now. And that’s the urgency that I carry with simply the love and fervour of this recreation,” Prescott mentioned. “I am not solely desirous to win for myself, however desirous to win for this group. It has been properly rattling lengthy sufficient. … We have got to maintain that on the forefront of our thoughts. That is why I mentioned Tyler Smith saying [the expectation is to win a Super Bowl], Schotty saying that man’s not backing down from that. Yeah, look it within the face, look it within the eyes, and do no matter you possibly can.
“When one thinks one thing, it is good, however when two assume it, it is highly effective. Once we can get 100 guys to assume it, it may occur. So that is what it is about.”