Prescott already vocal as new face of Cowboys
OXNARD » Dak Prescott’s best test yet as the new face of the Cowboys came two days after owner Jerry Jones once again declared that all Dallas players will stand for the national anthem and even said they wouldn’t be afforded the alternative of staying in the locker room.
The star quarterback didn’t pause or stammer. He didn’t stop himself to consider what his peers might think. He made it clear he will stand, and doesn’t think it’s right to do otherwise.
“Whether I was wearing the star or not, whether I was playing for Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones or any other owner, I believe in what I believe in and that’s that,” Prescott said Friday in his first session with reporters at training camp.
Jerry Jones held his usual camp-opening news conference Wednesday, and said his usual things about the anthem, and then some. Son Stephen Jones, executive vice president of personnel, suggested a day later that the Cowboys would cut any player who stayed in the locker room.
The option of staying off the field was part of a policy owners approved in May, but was put on hold not long after The Associated Press revealed that the Miami Dolphins would consider suspending players up to four games for kneeling or otherwise protesting during the anthem.
Just as he did when he showed up two years ago as the overshadowed third quarterback on Tony Romo’s team, Prescott offered his opinion plainly and simply, and in so many words. There are countless more people listening now.
“He knows how important that is to be one of the faces of the team and he always does exactly what you’d expect, to a script,” offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said. “It’s not forced. It’s just part of him.”
Prescott replaced an injured Romo in 2016 and had one of the best rookie seasons for a quarterback in NFL history, ultimately sending Romo into retirement. Now 15-year tight end Jason Witten and franchise touchdown catch leader Dez Bryant are gone.
The former Mississippi State standout is the leading voice, and not hesitating to use it.
“I’d never protest during anthem, and I don’t think that’s the time or the venue to do so,” Prescott said. “We know about social injustice. I’m up for taking a next step, whatever that step may be for action and not just kneeling.”
Prescott didn’t have any immediate specifics for that community action, but it’ll be a few months before he can concentrate on it fully. Right now he’s trying to get the Cowboys back to the playoffs after his encore fell flat.
Dallas missed the postseason at 9-7 last season, clouded by the fight over the six-game suspension that Prescott’s fellow rookie sensation, running back Ezekiel Elliott, finally had to serve halfway through the year.
Falcons’ Blank defends players’ rights in anthem
FLOWERY BRANCH, GA. » Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank believes players should have the right to speak out on important issues even though he isn’t expecting national anthem protests from his team this season.
Blank says just like last season, Falcons players have been asked to stand for the national anthem.
He said the Falcons are “very committed to the military.” He also says he believes players have “very significant rights” and appeared to say he wouldn’t fine players for exercising those rights.
On the issue of standing or kneeling for the national anthem, Blank said “it’s far better” for players to make those decisions “than to hit them over the head with a hammer.”
Blank’s comments came as the NFL and NFLPA, the players’ union, held what they said in a joint statement was “a constructive meeting” about the anthem policy. They said their talks will continue.
Titans’ Taylor Lewan agrees to extension
NASHVILLE, TENN. » The Tennessee Titans locked up two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Taylor Lewan on Friday with a deal making him the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman for the moment.
The team did not disclose specific terms, but multiple reports say it’s a five-year deal worth $80 million with $50 million guaranteed. That tops the four-year, $62 million deal Nate Solder got from the New York Giants in March.
The Titans announced the deal before their second practice of training camp, wrapping up negotiations that progressed quickly enough that Lewan reported on time Wednesday . Lewan skipped the mandatory minicamp in June because of stalled talks.
“I’ve showed a lot of goodwill,” Lewan said after practice Thursday. “So this is me coming here because I want this team to be successful. I know I’m on this team this year, so I want this team to be successful, and I want to do everything I can to be the best left tackle I can be.”
Lewan, who turned 27 last weekend, was the 11th overall selection out of Michigan in 2014. The 6-foot-7, 309-pound Lewan had been due $9.34 million this season under the fifth-year option the Titans picked up last year. He has started 53 of 58 games, including every game the past two seasons, protecting quarterback Marcus Mariota’s back.
Darnold a holdout as Jets camp opens without him
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. » There was no sign of Sam Darnold as the New York Jets opened training camp.
The No. 3 overall draft pick officially became a contract holdout when the team began its first practice of the summer Friday without its prized rookie quarterback.
“He’s not here,” coach Todd Bowles said, “so I’m coaching the other (89) guys.”
Darnold joins Chicago linebacker Roquan Smith, the No. 8 choice, as the only unsigned picks from the entire draft.
Under the NFL’s labor agreement, contract holdouts by rookies are uncommon because deals are slotted based on draft position. Darnold will receive a four-year, fully guaranteed contract worth $30.247 million, including a $20 million signing bonus.
“It’s part of the business,” Bowles said. “We’ve got two other quarterbacks who can play, too.”
The dispute seems to hang on contract language. If a player is cut during his rookie contract, offset language provides the team with financial protection. Not having offset language allows a player to receive his salary from the team that cut him, as well as get paid by another team that signs him.