Cowboys' Dak Prescott sends another message to critics

A confident Dak Prescott declared ahead of this season that criticisms he'd heard would only "make it that much sweeter" when the Dallas Cowboys "win this thing." 

Prescott took somewhat of a different approach this week while speaking with reporters about detractors as the 4-2 Cowboys prepare to host the 3-4 Los Angeles Rams this coming Sunday. 

"I mean, I don’t deal with it," Prescott said about the negative outside noise, per Jon Machota of The Athletic. "People talk, they’re always going to talk. … I’ve honestly always felt this way, I’m the most critical of myself when it comes down to it. So outside of this building, criticism, if you don’t know the true X’s and O’s of what’s being talked about, what’s being asked of me within the position, it really doesn’t matter. That’s also something that experience creates."

Fans, NFL analysts and even Texas Gov. Greg Abbott have publicly offered takes over the years regarding Prescott's ability or inability to guide the Cowboys to a Super Bowl. Former NFL quarterback and current Auburn Sports Network analyst Jason Campbell noted earlier this month that Prescott wasn't entirely to blame for Dallas' 42-10 blowout loss at the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5, and teammate Micah Parsons later made it known he does not "condone the bashing of Dak Prescott" among media members. 

"Obviously appreciate it as a teammate when you know another teammate is sticking up for you," Prescott said about Parsons' comments. "But in the sense of I guess comparing my position or us to other teams, I’ve been in this organization eight years, whether you b---- about it or not, it’s not going to stop. That’s just how it goes. To me, it’s fun."

Prescott then repeated a familiar phrase.

"Because when things go our way and we win this thing, it’s going to make it all that much sweeter," he continued. "Say what you want, we get to go out there and we get to do it." 

ESPN stats show Prescott enters the weekend ranked eighth in the NFL among qualified players with a 61.7 adjusted QBR and tied for fourth with a 69.5% completion percentage on the season. He tossed six touchdown passes and four interceptions over Dallas' first six games. 

As of late Friday morning, OddsChecker listed the Cowboys as six-point home favorites against the Rams.