A working theory: The Dallas Cowboys are held to a different and higher standard - if not by Cowboys Nation, which has an emotional attachment to doing so, then certainly by the national media ...
Which should have no "emotional attachment.''
But which does seem to have an "emotional agenda.''
ESPN's "Get Up'' show recently created a list of the five quarterbacks who are on the hot seat to win a Super Bowl, and Tedy Bruschi was brought on camera ostensibly to talk about the No. 1 guy on the list, maybe-future New York Jets QB Aaron Rodgers.
But Tedy, the three-time Super Bowl champ with Patriots, had no interest in discussing Rodgers. Nor was he invested in talking about the others on the list, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson.
Nor was he interested in discussing the total of 28 active starting QBs who haven't won a Super Bowl. (Do the math: Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Matthew Stafford and Rodgers are the only four with rings.)
Bruschi chose to veer off-script and to go at Prescott.
"Dak Prescott doesn't belong on that list (of "Super Bowl Hot Seat QBs),'' Tedy said. "He belongs on a list that says, 'To look competent in the playoffs.'"
We're not interested in the argument of whether Bruschi is "right'' because there is no "right.'' This is a goofy made-up list created to invite opinion and debate.
No problem there.
We're not interested in "defending Dak,'' either.
Then there's Prescott and what he's done in his career. Prescott - who looked extremely confident in Dallas' playoff win at Tampa Bay this year, by the way - has only led the Cowboys to two playoff wins in his seven seasons.
That's not enough in Dallas, just like it's not enough in Denver or Detroit or anyplace else. And - because Dak's $40 million APY salary is often used as a debate fulcrum here, one more thing: That's not enough for a team with a QB making $40 mil or $14 mil or $4 mil.
It's not enough.
If by "hot seat,'' ESPN means "pressure''? Prescott is indeed on that list, for many reasons, not the least of which is ... ESPN keeps putting him on all of its lists.
And because there is TV traction to be gained by talking about "Dallas and Dak'' - even prioritized above talking about "Rodgers and New York''(!?) - Prescott will remain a fixture on their lists.
And the talking heads will make certain to insert him as the answer even if he has nothing to do with the question.
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