Troy Aikman on Cowboys’ QB: ‘I still believe in Dak’

Aikman faced his fair share of criticism and adversity as the Dallas Cowboys quarterback,

both at the start and conclusion of his career,

so he can relate to what Dak Prescott is up against as the face of

the most scrutinized and vilified team in all of sports.

Aikman, a former first-round choice in 1989, started 0-11 as a rookie and finished 14-24 in his first three seasons.

Needless to say, many outside of the building classified him as anything but the Chosen One,

only to prove them all wrong in Year 4 and beyond,

Prescott, a former fourth-round pick entering his ninth season,

is still struggling to overcome the postseason obstacle,

but Aikman hasn’t given up on the three-time Pro Bowler.

the City of Dallas for being named the No. 1 Sports Business City by Sports Business Journal.

“I believe that unless you do it, there will always be criticism.

Peyton Manning heard that his first three years, he didn’t win a playoff game,

and now you can’t fathom anyone doubting his ability to win a playoff game.”

Prescott and the Cowboys have won the NFC East in two of the previous three seasons,

with a 36-15 regular season record, but they are currently 1-2 in the postseason.

Their loss to the Green Bay Packers was as demoralizing as you’ll see,

and the blame can be spread nearly evenly across the board — offense, defense,

special teams, and coaching — raising questions about whether Prescott,

who produced an MVP-caliber season before the wheels came off the offense in January,

can end the Super Bowl drought that dates back to Aikman’s days in the driver’s seat.

“I do know that we all draw on our past experiences,” Aikman remarked.

“And when we don’t have positive experiences, they become difficult to overcome,

and I believe that is Dak’s difficulty. The question for him, and truly for the club,

isn’t so much what occurs during the regular season, but how you play once you get into the postseason.

That makes for a long year when that’s the way it works.

“I’ve had big expectations as well.

The Cowboys have been through similar situations in the past,

so the pressure will undoubtedly increase once the offseason and next season begin.

It makes it difficult to return and put themselves in a position to start all over again.”

And therein lies the added complication, because Prescott isn’t getting any younger,

and there is currently no extension in the works for head coach Mike McCarthy,

as well as the fact that the NFL is a business of attrition,

and thus annual roster turnover becomes an added challenge to the ultimate goal.

“It’s hard in this league to keep the [proverbial window] open,” he said.

He is not wrong, and the onus is on everyone concerned to right the ship next season,

but not just between September and December, as that is now expected,

so it will not be the standard by which success or failure is evaluated in 2024.

A lengthy playoff run will be necessary to silence Prescott’s and the Cowboys’ naysayers.

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