Sign up for Dak Prescott soon or move on

It may be impossible at this stage to put aside your emotions about how the negotiations with Dak Prescott developed.

You are probably entrenched in ideological lines, outraged that you were not resolved or perplexed that the Cowboys would break the bank for a quarterback who has a post-season victory in his name.

The aim here is not to continue this contentious debate. Friends of Dak (FOD) will not be influenced.

Neither do Critics of Dak, a group that goes by the unfortunate acronym for COD.

Now it’s time to recognize the clock ticking. Now is the time to accept reality.

If the two sides are unable to reach a long-term agreement by March 9, when a second franchise label must be applied, a split must occur. If the club is not convinced that a deal is imminent, it should move on.

This is not the desired result. The property wishes to proceed with Prescott.

But face it. Negotiations have been underway for more than 19 months. If little or no progress is made in the next six weeks, there is no reason to believe that it will occur in the weeks and months that follow.

There are other factors at work that establish this period of time. Let’s start with a volatile quarterback market.

Philip Rivers retired from Indianapolis. Drew Brees is expected to accompany him to New Orleans.

Detroit and Matthew Stafford, who still have two more years of a $ 43 million contract, reached a mutual separation agreement. Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger turns 39 on March 2. He has another year of contract for $ 41.25 million.

Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay made cryptic comments about an uncertain future after losing to Tampa Bay in the NFC Championship Game, although he modified his comments on Tuesday, saying in a radio interview that he saw no reason not to return with the Packers. Houston’s Deshaun Watson has been acting like someone who wouldn’t mind forcing him out of town.

Moments after the LA Rams were eliminated from the playoffs, coach Sean McVay ended his press conference by saying that Jared Goff is “the defender now”. Having a chance to clarify that statement a day or more later, McVay emphasized that all positions would be assessed in the off-season.

Cam Newton of New England. Carson Wentz from Philadelphia. Mitchell Trubisky from Chicago, who will be a free agent. Jimmy Garoppolo, from San Francisco. Teddy Bridgewater from Carolina. Alex Smith from Washington. Sam Darnold of the New York Jets.

Who in this group is on solid ground? How many of these clubs would consider Prescott a significant update or a notable escape plan?

An unprecedented opportunity presents itself. The quarterback market is unlikely to be as fluid as it looks, but it should be more active than usual. The Cowboys can’t afford to miss this in hopes of signing a Prescott extension before the July deadline.

Cowboys need more certainty. The same is true of Prescott. He doesn’t want to be excluded from this market if it doesn’t work with Dallas.

Other factors? A second consecutive franchise brand in the quarterback will cost Cowboys $ 37.7 million. This is money that cannot be used to improve defense at the free agency.

The Cowboys have the tenth choice in the April draft. This choice can be used to select a quarterback or applied as a lever to go up and acquire a quarterback.

The absolute worst case scenario for Dallas: he does not change Prescott, does not select a quarterback and allows him to play this season in the franchise brand. As soon as a player reaches the second franchise tag, he is gone.

Please consult Kirk Cousins.

In this scenario, Prescott goes free next season. The Cowboys have no veteran substitute, no high-level newcomers they’ve been developing, and a first-round pick in the 1920s.

Once again, the club’s priority is to stay on course and pay Prescott. But if that cannot be accomplished in the next six to eight weeks, the Cowboys must spin.

In the days leading up to Green Bay’s game against the Buccaneers, Rodgers called his future a “beautiful mystery”. There is no mystery with Prescott.

The Cowboys are currently on DEFCON 2. The threat changes to DEFCON 1 if the quarterback does not sign a long-term contract in six weeks or if he is guaranteed to sign.

Time is running out.

See David Moore and Robert Wilonsky as co-hosts Intentional Grounding on The Ticket (KTCK-AM 1310 and 96.7 FM) every Wednesday night, starting at 7 am until the Super Bowl.

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