Cowboys still hope to sign Prescott

Dallas Cowboys vice-president Stephen Jones reaffirmed the team's plan to sign quarterback Dak Prescott to a long-term contract.

Jones said Wednesday that there's no direct impact on Prescott or contract talks based on peripheral comparisons being made to Carson Wentz losing his starting job in Philadelphia after the Eagles signed him to a long-term extension worth US$128 million.

“Our issues in our negotiations with Dak have been we're wanting to be more committed in terms of the term,” Jones said during an interview with 105.3 The Fan.

“We're not nervous to sign Dak. His makeup is all the right things. He's an amazing man off the field, he's a great leader in our locker-room, a great player and that's why we've wanted to sign him long term. ... When you sign a player long-term you've got more flexibility in how you work the salary cap with a player who's going to eat up a big percentage of your cap when you're talking about a quarterback.”

Prescott was lost for the season to a severe ankle injury suffered on Oct. 11 and isn't expected to participate in off-season workouts until March or April.

By then the Cowboys and Prescott already will have determined whether Prescott will play again on the franchise tag. He was tagged last spring and played 2020 on the $32 million franchise tender after the two sides tried but failed to close on a contract in July.

Prescott, 27, never missed an NFL game until he went down in Week 5. He's 42-27 in five NFL regular seasons and 1-2 in the playoffs, all with the Cowboys.

Jones said the Cowboys understand there is always risk in long-term commitments. Prescott, who was leading the NFL in passing at the time of his injury, likely would command top dollar in free agency even after his injury.