Could Jerry Jones’ unrealistic return date for Dak Prescott backfire on the Cowboys? | You Pod to Win the Game

Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson and Tank Williams discuss Cowboy’s owner Jerry Jones saying that they think injured quarterback Dak Prescott will be back from thumb surgery in 3-4 weeks rather than the originally stated 6-8 weeks. Charles is concerned they will bring Prescott back too early. While Tank explains how from his experience playing in the league, how owners use the fans to help pressure players to come back from injury early even if they are not ready to return. Hear the full conversation on the You Pod to Win the Game podcast. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you listen

Video Transcript

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CHARLES ROBINSON: It's always Jerry explaining away something, or telling you how it's going to be better, or denying that there's any issue with the head coach or all these different things. So, Jerry, this time comes out and says, we're not putting Dak Prescott on Injured Reserve, which means we're going to expect him back sooner rather than later.

But Jerry says, we're thinking three to four weeks for Dak versus six to eight. And then, McCarthy, in the middle of this, kind of, piles on Jerry. He follows up with, we're looking at a seven to 10 day. Sort of, he's going to rehab for 7 to 10 days, and then we're going to look at it, and we'll move forward.

But a lot of this is driven by Jerry's optimism. I just get nervous, three to four weeks, I hope they don't rush this dude back early, right? Because you and I looked at Dak last season, and we're like, something doesn't feel right.

All season long, something doesn't feel right. And then when the season is over, oh, yeah, he wasn't at 100% during the course of the season. I don't want this to be another one of those situations where they push him back a little early, and he just can't spin it right.

TANK WILLIAMS: But, Dawg, we see it all the time. I remember playing in Tennessee, I mean, Dawg, if you could imagine, Steve McNair, Dawg, he would come into the training facility after the game, he could barely walk, Dawg. He wouldn't be able to practice all week.

I mean, just kind of laboring around, and then, on Sundays, they shoot him up, and then he goes out there, and he plays like Superman. And it's just because the ownership. They're like, Yo, we pay you all this money. We expect for you to go out there, and win games for us. And Steve McNair probably wasn't making a third of what?

CHARLES ROBINSON: Dak is.

TANK WILLIAMS: Dak is making, right now. You know what I'm saying? And so, I find it troubling as well, when you put these unrealistic terms and conditions on a player.

I mean, it's not like, it's something that he can hide. Like, he has to throw with that hand.

CHARLES ROBINSON: Yep. Yep.

TANK WILLIAMS: And you're trying to rush him back out there. And if he doesn't make it in four weeks or so, who's going to be on his neck? Maybe some teammates, even I doubt the teammates, but definitely the fans. And that's one way that ownership is always able to kind of rally the fans, and always have them on their side.

Because, hey, we're trying to do what's best for you. But, look, this player doesn't want to perform for us. He doesn't want to be out there to help us win games.

But more importantly, I think what Jerry and what everyone else is saying, is, Dawg, look at the next five games they have to play. Two teams I was in the Super Bowl last year, the Bengals, the Rams. Then you have to play all three of your NFC East foes.

And guess what? They're all undefeated. Like, this is the first time I can remember where the Cowboys are going to be dogs in the next five games.

And so when they see that breathing down their neck, I'm not really surprised to see him try to put that unrealistic expectation on that. Yet, at the same time, it's kind of a bad look, and it may end up backfiring on them.

CHARLES ROBINSON: From a player perspective, I'm wondering, when you played, if you suffer an injury, is it not better for ownership to kind of leave it a little shrouded? And if you come back early, it becomes a pleasant surprise for everybody. But if they come out and they say, well, actually, we think Dak could be up after four weeks.

Now, you're shifting the pressure onto the player, in a way where, as you said, the fan base is sitting there. Now, the fan base in their minds, they're looking at Dak going, what is it four weeks kind of the expectation now? And isn't every single week after that a disappointment, if he's not there in 4 weeks?