Getty Image
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is currently the sixth among active quarterbacks in all-time career earnings at $196.3 million.
Prescott’s career-earnings total of $196.3 million is behind only Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, Russell Wilson, Kirk Cousins, and Jared Goff.
Given that the money in NFL contracts is bigger than ever, and quarterbacks are the highest-paid players in the league, it’s safe to assume that Prescott is one of the highest earners in the history of the National Football League.
And yet, despite this, Prescott recently claimed that he does not play the game for money.
“I don’t play for money. I have never cared for it, to be honest with you. Yeah, I would give it up just to play this game,” Prescott told the media, according to the Cowboys’ official website.
“I allow that to the business people to say what it’s worth — what they’re supposed to give a quarterback of my play, a person of my play and a leader of my [caliber]. For me, it’s about controlling what I can control and handling that part, and the rest will take care of itself.”
NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt was quick to call out Prescott by suggesting that after his contract expires next season, he should literally put his money where his mouth is and tell his agent he wants to play for the veteran’s minimum salary.
Dak Prescott doesn’t play for money. pic.twitter.com/ATIRRLI9y8
— Kyle Brandt (@KyleBrandt) May 23, 2024
Stephen A. Smith was also critical of Prescott on First Take and similarly encouraged him to take a below-market deal so the Cowboys could afford to give out lucrative contracts to their other stars, such as wide receiver Ceedee Lamb and linebacker Micah Parsons.
“You talk about not playing for money? That should be music to Ceedee Lamb’s ears. It should be music to Micah Parsons’ ears,” Smith said.
“Because Dak Prescott, if you take less, like some other great quarterbacks have done in the past, then there would be more money for the other guys… We’re not knocking Dak for getting what the market allows. You go ahead and you get it. The point is don’t spit in our face and tell us it’s raining.”
If he doesn’t play the game for money, he certainly isn’t playing it for winning, either, as he’s yet to lead the Dallas Cowboys to the NFC Championship, let alone the Super Bowl.