Newly-minted $60 million man Dak Prescott knows he must now take Dallas Cowboys to Super Bowl

Dak Prescott didn’t particularly like his performance in the Dallas Cowboys’ 33-17 victory against the Cleveland Browns in the season opener Sunday.

He completed 19 of 32 passes for 179 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in a ho-hum blowout of what looked like a hapless Browns team.

The touchdown was a thing of beauty, a 21-yarder against the blitz to a wide open Brandin Cooks. Prescott threw the ball to spot before Cooks even made his cut.

But after leading 20-3 at halftime, the offense scored just two field goals in the second half. It was a 60-yard punt return by KaVontae Turpin that blew the game open.

In the end, Prescott couldn’t help but acknowledge what was a special day for him, the Cowboys and his family.

A man who grew up as the youngest of three brothers in a trailer park in tiny Haughton, La. is now the highest paid player in NFL history, thanks to a four-year, $240 million deal he got right before kickoff.

The deal includes $231 million guaranteed and an $80 million signing bonus.

No player in NFL history has even earned $60 million annually and Prescott now leads the pack by $5 million on the second highest paid player.

Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow, Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence and Green Bay’s Jordan Love all make $55 million annually.

He had emotional calls with his agent Todd France, his marketing team, his fiance Sarah Jane Ramos and his father after learning of the deal.

He shared a big hug with running back Ezekiel Elliott, his best friend who held him down a rookie with he made big money as a fourth overall pick in 2016 and Prescott was scraping on minimum deal as a fourth-round pick.

The Cowboys celebrated Prescott before the game. And several players were taking everyone’s wrist size as they expect Rolex watches from the Cowboys franchise quarterback.

And then it was simply business as usual.

An always focused Prescott, who owner Jerry Jones has called the best leader he has ever been around, didn’t allow the contract to be a distraction during the long negotiations and it wasn’t before during a methodical beat down of the Browns.

“Just so happy, so proud of Dak for getting that contract done,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “It’s obviously very exciting for us an organization. That’s a big move to lock up your quarterback for the future. The timing was different. I think he handled it like you would think he would. We meet fifteen minutes after he arrives as the stadium so we had a normal meeting. We spent three minutes congratulating him on the contract. It’s something you want to celebrate for the individual. I thought he was locked during the game. He was normal in his approach. That is the way he does everything.”

For all practical purposes, nothing will every be the same again for Prescott.

Arguably, already the most scrutinized player in the NFL, the spotlight just got brighter for the newly-minted $60 million man.

That Prescott has just two playoff wins in eight years as Cowboys quarterback is reason many question his status as an elite quarterback, despite leading the NFL in touchdown passes and finishing second in NFL MVP balloting last season.

It’s also why some expected to the Cowboys to allow Prescott play out the season and sign elsewhere in free agency.

That was never an option or consideration for the Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones.

And Prescott knows he must now up hold his end of the bargain and not just find a way to win playoff games but lead the Cowboys to the Super Bowl. And if he doesn’t, all the money in the world won’t prevent the slandering of his name and game.

Prescott understand it all. He is own worst critic, which is why he wasn’t happy with Sunday’s performance.

“I put the most pressure on myself,” Prescott said. “Simple as that. I’m not happy with my personal performance. And that’s what motivated me. That’s what pushes me. I was trying to be bummed 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 a day for you’.”

“I put the most pressure on myself. Nobody is a bigger critic than me personally. I expect greatness out of myself. There is no added pressure.”

But there is added expectations, though expectations that Prescott already had for himself.

You got paid the most. You are expected to deliver when it matters most.

Prescott has not always played his best in the postseason. He has two playoff wins in eight seasons as Cowboys quarterback.

That the Cowboys haven’t won a Super Bowl since their last their last title in January of 1996 is an albatross that now hangs around Prescott’s neck.

He said he wants to be the quarterback that finally brings the Cowboys back to the Super Bowl glory.

The contract says he has to be.

“That’s all my motivation,” Prescott said. “Hold up my part of this deal and just deliver that. That’s my motivation. 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.”

When?

The clock is ticking.