We need to talk about the double standard in the media coverage for Dak Prescott
Keyshawn Johnson once called the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys the most “over-hyped” quarterback in the NFL.
Key’ wasn’t talking about Dak Prescott. Key’ was talking about Tony Romo.
That was around 2007, but it applies to 2023, the same as 1973, 1983 or 1993.
And as much as it applies to Dak, and Romo, the same realities were there for Troy, Roger, Danny White, Craig Morton, Quincy Carter, Chad Hutchinson, Drew Henson and the rest.
The difference today is just more. More platforms. More voices. Louder volume. It’s all day, every day.
There is a double standard for Dak Prescott; just as there has been for those who came before him he will have to endure, while benefiting from, that double standard.
The quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys is the most scrutinized player in the NFL, and as such he enjoys a life that few others do. Mostly in terms of potential endorsements, and an array of future opportunities that come with being The Man for the NFL’s most visible franchise.
You will notice that Don Meredith, Roger, Troy and Romo all went to the broadcast booth; hard to say if they would have made that jump had they not been the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys.
Don’t see a lot of former Jaguars, Lions and Texans QB’s in the booth calling the NFL’s biggest games.
Current NBC NFL analyst Cris Collinsworth put it best when before the start of the season he said, “If NBC had their choice, we would do 17 Dallas Cowboys games.”
There is just nothing quite like being the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys.
And there is just nothing quite like being the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys.
This offseason, Dak-content provided nearly every sports talk shows all over the country with endless programming. Daktalk is a Godsend to sports talk hosts, and producers.
We cannot get enough of looking at everything the man does, specifically those interceptions and turnovers when other guys are doing the same thing without the level of criticism.
Minutes before the Cowboys’ season began on Sunday night against the Giants in New Jersey, there was NBC sideline reporter Melissa Stark talking to Dak on camera. Her lead-in to a question was, “Dak, you led the league in interceptions last year.”
(He did.)
Stark is a pro’s pro, but this is like asking your spouse, “You were fat and stupid all last year, what makes you think today is going to be any different?”
Where is the Dak-level outrage at Joe Burrow? Less than 48 hours after signing the largest contract in NFL history, the Pro Bowl Bengal played like he couldn’t spell quarterback much less play quarterback in a 24-3 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Burrow completed 14-of-31 passes for 82 yards, was sacked five times, and made the Browns’ defense look like the 1985 Chicago Bears.
Where is the Dak-level outrage at The Human Turnover, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen?
Since Week 1 of the 2022 season, Allen has thrown 20 interceptions, and fumbled 17 times in 19 games.
On Monday night in New Jersey, Allen handed the Aaron Rodgers-less New York Jets the game with three interceptions, and Allen lost one of his two fumbles.
Since 2018, Allen has 82 turnovers.
If Dak Prescott had Josh Allen’s turnover line, sports talk would turn into the climactic scene from “Oppenheimer.”
And, yet, neither Allen nor Burrow receives a fraction of the heat that Dak feels.
Is it because of the color of Dak’s skin? For some, this will always be a Y-E-S.
It’s more because Dak Prescott is the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, Joe Burrow is the quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals, and Josh Allen is the quarterback of the Buffalo Bills.
There is a double standard.
Because Keyshawn nailed it; the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys is the most “over-hyped” quarterback in the NFL.
It’s a double standard that Dak both endures, and benefits, from living.
This story was originally published September 12, 2023 at 3:01 PM.
