Mike McCarthy on Dak Prescott handling contract situation: 'First I've heard of it'

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy is not worried about quarterback Dak Prescott’s contract situation. When speaking to reporters on Wednesday, McCarthy was asked about Prescott who is entering the final year of his contract.

“Well, it’s the first I’ve heard of it,” McCarthy said. That’s how well he does. [He’s just] focused on football.”

In 2021, Prescott signed a four-year, $160 million deal. An extension would be financially healthy for the Cowboys as Presott’s cap hit for the 2024 season is $55.445 million. In April, the Mississippi State alum was asked about his future with the Cowboys.

“I’m not going to say I fear being here or not. I don’t fear either situation, to be candid with you,” Prescott said Friday from the Children’s Cancer Fund Gala, per  The Athletic’s Jon Machota. “I love this game and love to play and love to better myself as a player and my teammates around me. Right now it’s with the Dallas Cowboys, it’s where I want to be, and that’s where I am, and that’s the focus. And after the season we’ll see where we’re at and if the future holds that. And if not, we’ll go from there.”

Dak Prescott is not worried about the lack of contract talks

At the time, Prescott said he and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones did not have contract discussions but did not rule out the sides talking in the future. “Honestly, I’m focused on the moment, on the now,” Prescott said. “If the talks begin and real talks get to happen, sure, we can talk about getting that done, but in this case right now I’m worried about getting better, being better than I am at this moment. So leaving that up to my agent and Jerry at this point.”

Prescott has had a strong run with the Cowboys, but is he the guy who can lead the team to its first Super Bowl win since 1995? Cowboys legend Troy Aikman still believes that Prescott can do what he did three times and that’s winning a championship.

“I still believe in Dak,” Aikman said to Athlon Sports last month. “I think that until you do it, there’s always those criticisms. I know Peyton Manning went through that. His first three years, he didn’t win a playoff game, and then you look back on it now and you can’t imagine that anyone would question whether or not he could win a playoff game.”