Dak Prescott hopes to help, not judge Elliott, troubled teammates

Dak Prescott is being not only being offered up as the new face of the Dallas Cowboys but as a symbol the team’s goodness in the face of a litany of the field issues involving his teammates.

So as he opened training camp as the quarterback and team leader for the first time, he was also asked to comment on the growing list of swirling issues engulfing the team.

Receiver Lucky Whitehead was released Monday just hours after reports surfaced that he was arrested for petty theft in June and had warrant out for his arrest for failure to appear in court.

Running back Ezekiel Elliott is still waiting the results of a year-long investigation from the NFL regarding domestic violence allegations of a former girlfriend and was allegedly involved in an altercation at a Dallas night club less than a week before the start of camp.

Linebacker Damien Wilson was arrested by Frisco police July 4 for two counts of felony aggravated assault.

Cornerback Nolan Carroll has arrested in Dallas in May for driving while intoxicated.

Yet, Prescott was ready just as he was when he took over for Tony Romo and replaced him as the Cowboys’ franchise quarterback with the best rookie season in NFL history.

“I mean, those things are being handled in house,” Prescott said. “For me, it’s just about being a good teammate. Making sure I back these guys up, being in their corner. We’re all grown men. We know what’s right and what’s wrong. It’s about staying focused and knowing what’s important, that’s what we do on this field.”

Prescott refused to get specific and drew the line when questions turned pointed to Elliott and what he could do to support his friend.

The two have been close since taking the league by storm as rookies together last year.

Surely, if anyone can get to Elliott, it’s Prescott.

Right?

“That’s not something I care to talk about,” Prescott said. “But definitely he’s a good friend. So yeah, I mean, I take pride in helping him out every way on and off the field, yes.”

Prescott’s success can be traced to his work and maturity. His image is important to him and he understands importance of leadership is to the quarterback position.

Yet, he acknowledges that he is not perfect and has made mistakes in the past.

He was attacked during spring break in 2015 before his senior season at Mississippi State and then was arrested for driving under the influence a year later. He was later cleared of those charges but they were part of the reason he dropped to the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

So he refuses to be judgmental when talking about his teammates. He says it’s all a learning experience. He vowed that he wouldn’t put himself in those positions again and he believes his teammates can learn similar lessons.

“I mean, I’ve made probably as many bad decisions as any of these guys have, only being 23, so I’m definitely not one that can point fingers and be mad or be pissed,” Prescott said. “All I can do is give from my young experience and the things that happened to me.”

This story was originally published July 25, 2017 at 2:10 AM with the headline "Dak Prescott hopes to help, not judge Elliott, troubled teammates."