Jerry Jones has no buyers remorse but Dallas Cowboys need $60 million QB Dak Prescott to play better and smarter

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is not only admittedly not playing his best football throughout the first seven games of the season.

But his stats put him in the middle of the league at his position for a 3-4 Cowboys team riding a two-game losing streak heading into Sunday’s must-win game at the Atlanta Falcons.

It’s safe that owner Jerry Jones didn’t expect those number when made Prescott the richest player on NFL history with four-year,$240 million deal that averages $60 million annually.

But Jones has no buyers remorse.

“No, not at all,” Jones said. “Yesterday is as dead as Napoleon. You can’t get yesterday back and go get Napoleon. It’s today right now, and going forward.”

Jones also knows that Prescott’s performance is hamstrung by Jones’ own suspect personnel decisions that have him playing with a subpar offensive line, featuring two rookies, the worst running game in the NFL and a receiver corps that has one viable playmaker in CeeDee Lamb.

Jones said Prescott was going to have to play with a lesser supporting class to justify his contract and he meant it.

Still, the Cowboys didn’t expect Prescott to be playing the arguably worst football of his career statistically.

Never before has he had eight interceptions through his first seven games.

Never has he had three straight games with double digit picks.

But that is where Prescott is in 2024.

“Me, personally, I’m frustrated,” Prescott said. “I’m frustrated with myself and my play. I know the rest of the guys are [too], sitting at 3-4, but I can tell you that nobody is shaken or giving up. Frustration is very high, but it’s a long season.

“A lot is still ahead of us. But, frustrated, and that’s the best way I can put it. “

Ever more frustrated than Prescott is Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy.

Prescott’s turnovers represent a fundamental character flaw in the team’s struggles.

It’s one thing to not turnover the ball over which is a huge problem for the Cowboys, wo have recorded just four interceptions and one fumble.

But it’s worse to give the ball away to another team, which prevents young from winning.

“Personally, I’m very frustrated,” McCarthy said. “If you want to be known for something as a football team, it’s taking care of the football. I know my experience in the league would reflect that. To quote Brian Schottenheimer, Marty Schottenheimer is probably turning over in his grave right now watching us play being minus-eight.”

McCarthy said the turnovers have been the biggest hindrance for the Cowboys.

All turnovers are not the same and there are contributing factors to Prescott’s mistakes.

He is taking more hits than anytime in his career because of the offensive line breakdowns in performance and communication.

But if there was one thing the Cowboys hoped count on with Prescott was him being smart with the football and making good decisions.

That has not been the case in 2024 and proved to be the difference in last Sunday’s 30-24 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. His decision to throw the ball the CeeDee Lamb on the their first drive of third quarter remains a sore point.

“[I need to] not turn the ball over, period,” he said. “I don’t have to be perfect, but I damn sure can’t have the turnovers. I’ve just gotta eat that [first throw] and take that sack. And the second one was as boneheaded of an interception as I’ve had.

“I tried to make a play, and had too much confidence in myself at that moment. Probably should’ve just thrown it away. I wish I would’ve put some more heat on it to CeeDee, or just out of bounds. That one hurt, to start off the third quarter that way allowed them to get a touchdown there. Then look at the final score and a touchdown was the difference.”

McCarthy doesn’t blame Prescott for all of his interceptions.

His first one against the 49ers came on a shot play to KaVontae Turpin and it was underthrown because of the pressure.

“Yeah, I think, clearly, you’re always looking at patterns,” McCarthy said. “The fact that when the pressure goes up, from a protection standpoint, he got caught trying to make a play. We’ve got to be better in that spot, particularly the second one. That ball needs to be thrown away. Come out, it’s third and four, you’re in favorable down and distance but punting is good.Every series on offense needs to end in a kick, whether it’s a field goal, whether it’s an extra point or a punt. We will not — cannot — continue to play with the giveaways here. We need to be better.”

Simply put, Prescott needs to be better.

And he knows it.

 “That’s on me and I can’t have that and win games.” Prescott said. I’ve got to clean that up, period.”