If a 2020 NFL season is played amid the worsening coronavirus pandemic, it appears Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will participate while under the franchise tag.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Todd Archer as well as NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero all reported it's unlikely the Cowboys and Prescott will come to terms on an extension before Wednesday's 4 pm ET deadline:
With a little more than 24 hours to go before the deadline, the #Cowboys & Dak Prescott remain dug in and no further talks are scheduled, per me and @TomPelissero. So barring a significant shift, Dak is in line to bet on himself again — this time playing on the $31.4 million tag.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 14, 2020
While $31.4 million is hardly a discount, the 26-year-old who guided the Cowboys to 40 victories across his 64 regular-season outings is seeking career and financial stability. In May, conflicting reports emerged on what the two parties wanted regarding a new contract.
Dallas has no need to cave, though, as the club can use the franchise tag to retain Prescott's rights for the 2021 campaign as well. It also remains unknown if the NFL will get the upcoming season underway on time, if at all, because of the uncontrolled virus outbreak that continues to threaten fall sports competitions throughout the country.
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