Dallas Cowboys quarterback Joe Milton III carries the ball during training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Joe Milton subtly shades former team while praising Dak Prescott, Cowboys culture

Originally posted on Dallas Cowboys on SI
By Randy Gurzi | Last updated Jul 24, 2025 6:14 PM ET

After watching Cooper Rush leave in NFL free agency, the Dallas Cowboys made a surprising move to bring in former New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III as Dak Prescott's new backup.

A sixth-round pick out of the University of Tennessee, Milton comes to Dallas with limited experience but plenty of potential. He has a rocket for an arm and has shown off his impressive athleticism as well.

What Milton needs, however, is refinement. He hopes to find that in Dallas and has had some impressive moments during training camp.

When asked about his first few practices with the team, Milton praised Prescott's leadership, saying he's "surprised" by how willing the veteran quarterback is to help him out. While praising Prescott, and the Cowboys, Milton also might have thrown some shade at New England, saying "it's different" than where he was.

Cowboys QB Joe Milton has been surprised by how much Dak Prescott has helped him. “Dak is a great leader. … All respect to him. He literally goes out of his way to help me.”

“I’ve been in another building. I know how that goes. It’s just very different over here.” pic.twitter.com/30pPwCxN9V
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) July 24, 2025

New England just didn't seem to be the right fit for Milton, who was criticized when leaving by Greg Bedard of The Boston Sports Journal. Bedard said Milton was "not a good dude," but didn't offer up any reason for the claim.

In Dallas, Milton seems to be getting along just fine. He's also set to display his talents during the preseason since Prescott typically doesn't play much in exhibition games. That should lead to plenty of excitement for fans who want to see Milton unleashed.

This article first appeared on Dallas Cowboys on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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