by DieHard batteries and Advanced. Autoparts,
Peter King here with Dallas. Cowboys quarterback, Dak
Prescott
deck. We just, I just watched the practice The Joint practice
between you and the Chargers for two days
and it really looked like you sort of we're having fun with
Justin Herbert and some of their guys and the throwing
contest afterwards. What are these things like for you and
like for players who,
you know, probably you're just used to normal training camp.
What are these joint practices? Like the other quote, this year
is the first chance that I got to participate in them last
year? We did them, but because of injuries, I missed them. And
then,
so this year, not only the charges, but Broncos, as well
just being able to practice against in a different defense,
see, something different that you've seen for the last few
weeks, or the whole offseason
get some game time reps without necessarily getting heads and
risking the injury. So Other grade than just be able to
connect with the players. On the other side,
have some fun, build some relationships, and
our guys won the Kewpie challenge that. Then I saw that
you had to have some breakfast. Is Herbert was not pleased. No,
I saw his last few throws. I could tell hard he was throwing
it, he was not happy with it. Yeah, it happens.
Yeah.
You know I really wanted to go back in time and ask you about
a couple of things because I covered the Cowboys draft in
2016
and I remember they Currently wanted Paxton Lynch in
the first round and Jerry Jones. The next day,
it was like his dog died,
you know? He was so disappointed, even get Paxton Lynch and then
early in the third day, the draft first pick of the fourth
round. They think they have a trade made to go up and get
the first pick of the fourth round to get Connor, Cook
of Michigan State,
and finally, you know, Jason's in the room and Jerry and
Steve. In Garrett and Jerry and Stephen.
And, you know, I forget who said if it's somebody said,
Hey, listen,
doc, he's really good. Let's be excited about that. Come on,
let's be excited. How much did you know that weekend?
What was going on inside the Cowboys?
Yeah, I didn't know,
didn't know anything that was going inside the cowboys that
weekend learn weeks after maybe months after and got getting
all the details
and I'm pretty sure it was coach. Lenihan that stood up
and said, hey Dykes good, let's go with that route. So I'm
honestly just going just reflecting back on that and
knowing what could have happened knowing that I could
have been on another 31 other teams
but things work out and things happen for a reason. So some
people were pulling some strings upstairs.
So
obviously your career takes an incredible turn when you've got
a play early and you play well.
I just want to go back in time and ask you, what are you
thinking? As you're having success after being
a fourth-round pick where nobody
expected anything of you? In that first year?
What was that like? Yeah, honestly, it was
confirmation to myself of just continuing to believe in what
I believe in believe in who I am believe in my process and
preparation and the way that I do things and they'll turn out
successful.
I feel like I've been doubted and every level.
And honestly, I got the starting job
to starting quarterback job in high school college and pro do
to a guy in front of me getting injured. So, at that time, when
I stepped in
said, maybe this is it again, and I took an opportunity
didn't want to
put in anybody else's hands. To take it away from me, as
I said, just trust in myself. And then. So, as the success
happened, it was just a confirmation. And it doesn't
matter what others say about you doesn't matter what others
believe in you. I know who I am. I know what I'm
capable of, and never forget that.
Why do you think you have been so well suited to have maybe
the most public
microscope on you job in the NFL which is to be
the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys and you've not
seemingly
had a problem or been nervous or
sort of felt beaten down by it. And yeah. Why is that simple?
As as I said, I believe in myself. I'm comfortable. Own
skin. I know who I am.
I try to be transparent and genuine and everything that I do.
Therefore, if something ever would come up or if some of
this and that it wouldn't be a surprise, it's who I am. And
yeah, just focusing on all the things that I can control. And
I think the more that everyone in this world can do that,
they'll control their Emotions. Don't control their
responsibilities. And
a lot of things are going to be
revolving, doors around you, but a lot of times you can't
affect that. And so not to allow that to seek into your
head and mess with your confidence, your mojo.
Or whatever it is and
just said you'd be comfortable in who you are and I think that's
been the answer for me.
Do you ever feel like
you're kind of qualified to give people advice
on how to just sort of do your job and throw everything else
outside? So it won't bother you. Yeah, honestly, just
because of experience
and obviously some unfortunate things have happened in my life.
A bunch of different adversities that
when I speak about,
Those things when I speak about controlling what you can control
it, comes from a real spot, it comes from a place of
experience of I've had to do it time and time again from
different events that have happened from your family
brother.
My injury that I believe. When I talk about these people
understand that they know that it's not just smoke that I had
to do this myself and now that I'm on the other side of these
things and
obviously, you always work through losing people. But when
you're on the other side of months years later and you're
able to talk about and be vulnerable about it.
People understand that, that that's who I am and that I'm
talking from a place of experience and it's easy for
somebody to listen to somebody that's that's done in been in
those shoes.
Could you ever see yourself writing a book about it?
Most definitely, I think they'll definitely be a time when
when I write a book and as I've gotten older here, these last
couple of years, I feel like maybe the first, the first book
is getting closer and closer. And I've had some opportunities
in the past and I just said, I wasn't ready. But
yeah, I'm from I'll be 30 next year so
I think it might be time.
For, for the first one
Russell Wilson is now in his mid-30s and he wants to play 10
more years. Have you thought how long you'd like to play?
You know, recently I've said I'll go ten more
and I quickly change that to God. Willingly gives me 10
more, I'm going to play 10 more,
I've always as well. Go back to being comfortable, my skin,
believe in what I believe in. It's about controlling when
I can control and living in the moment, stand where my feet
are. So as much as I'd love to play 10 years,
I don't want to get ahead of myself. What's important is
right now, me and this training camp this season. I just want
to focus on that and make sure all my energies there and we
can talk about next year or next year comes and
so forth on
two last things. Have you thought much about the last
play of the last game
of last season and is there anything at all? You do
different on that play?
Yeah, I mean I've thought about it a lot. I'm a big. I'm a guy
that loves to reflect and then obviously in situations like
that something
Scars, you builds a callous. You've got to go back and
reflect. You've got to think about in this game, bunch of
different situations and things happen. What if
it happened again? And
I can easily say, I wish I would've went down faster, but
I don't, I don't I think I wouldn't got enough. So I'm not
going to say I regret that by any means.
The process should have been cleaner for myself, the center,
the line, the officials everybody could have been
better and more prepared for what was going on.
So I'm not going to regret that. If anything, I feel like
I should have what we did at the last play today and made
a call where I'm not going to spike it. I snapped it at one
second and just went and tried to get a hell, marry off, or
get something off. That
gives us a chance. And then we didn't leave the play,
the snap, the clock, in the officials and the game clocks hands.
Last thing, do you
look at your chances this year as a team
any differently than you've looked at your chances in
the past, you're always a totally glass half full guy. You're
an optimistic guy.
Are you optimistic about this year? Very, very optimistic and
because of the team that we had last year, and because of what
we went through, the way that we've handled it moving
forward.
I think we're in a better position this year than we were
last year and I know some guys have gone and some guys have
have left and went to other teams but
that's the nature of this business. What we have built
here, the core, the leaders and mixed with a great group of
young guys who are hungry to make a name for themselves and
getting this league running.
I feel very, very confident about where we are and excited
about where we are and just ready. To keep building and get
this thing rolling. Mike McCarthy just left here. And he
told me, he says, deck was born to be the quarterback of
the Dallas Cowboys
and a lot of times when I listen to you talk,
I know it's corny but I kind of feel that way.
Do you ever
it's a blessing? Honestly I grew up a fan of the Dallas
Cowboys and always said, I'd be a quarterback in the NFL or
I wanted to be the quarterback, the Dallas Cowboys. And so
going into year 7, I'm blessed for everything that's come my
way. Way all the adversities pluses, minuses everything in
between that's made me. The person that I am. So
if it suited to be the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys and
God knew what he was doing and I'm just thankful for to be in
this position. I'm gonna make the most of my opportunity.
Hey, good luck this year, thanks. Uh, appear
with Dak Prescott in California. I'm Peter King.