'What a brotherhood means' - Dak Prescott's message from 2024 just became extremely relevant as NFL fights collusion allegations

When Dak Prescott told reporters in 2024 he didn't care about the money, a large portion of the Dallas Cowboys and NFL fanbase laughed at the quote. The reason why? Everyone knew it was only a matter of time before he'd end up becoming the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history.

However, one year later, Prescott's message is becoming extremely more relevant as the NFL faces collusion allegations stemming from the reveal of a five-month-old, 61-page ruling resulting from a collusion grievance filed by the NFL Players Association.

In it, System Arbitrator Christopher Droney determined there wasn't sufficient evidence to conclude the NFL colluded, but found Commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL Management Council "encouraged the 32 NFL Clubs to reduce guarantees in veterans." That takeaway alone has drawn criticism from media members and fans alike. And rightfully so. 

In 2024, the Cowboys quarterback explained how part of pursuing a blockbuster extension worth what the market dictated was also part of "pushing the envelope for the next man."

For long, the NFLPA has explained to players how the market works and how settling for less money on "discounts" affects the rest of the players around the league. 

"I'm a guy that grew up with two older brothers," Prescott told reporters last year amid contract negotiations. "You understand what a brotherhood means, not only for just this team, but the fraternity of the NFL and the players. The money is out there and the money can happen,"It can be done. There's ways to make everything work for both ways. That's in that sense it's always about pushing the envelope for the next man."

It's funny to think about how much outrage Prescott's contract caused only a year ago. Fans usually attack players by accusing them of being selfishness because they (supposedly) want to take all of the money, harming the team's chances of building a competitive roster (an opinion often proved to be wrong). 

And yet, the league and owners are jointly discussing lowering guarantees for the players they sign. I'm not saying the NFL colluded necessarily but I just can't blame players for doing their best to secure a fair payday. Sport franchise owners have been doing this for decades. That's why unions exist in the first place. If you want to read some real horror stories about owners, just pick up a copy of the book Lords of the Realm. 

As Prescott's quote indicates, it's not just for them. It's a responsibility to the fellow players, regardless of what uniform they happen to wear.