OXNARD, Calif. — On second thought, maybe it does Rayne in Southern California. There are reasons for Dak Prescott to feel pressure, certainly, given the 7-10 finish to the 2024 season that saw him land on season-ending injured reserve in November with a torn hamstring, but there are also reasons for the All-Pro quarterback to feel a rejuvenation.
For one, the organization tosses the keys to Brian Schottenheimer as both head coach and offensive playcaller.
The start of the Schottenheimer era is headlined by a blockbuster trade for wide receiver George Pickens, a human highlight reel in tandem with another, namely record-setting All-Pro receiver CeeDee Lamb — the trio that includes Prescott having become fast friends.
And then there's the fact that Prescott is healthy again, and in time to start training camp, a major key to Schottenheimer's offense birthing production as early as their incoming Week 1 clash with the Philadelphia Eagles.
With camp now in full swing, and padded practice very near, Prescott held court with media regarding all manner of topics, often wearing a sizable grin as he pondered the possibilities, but also the challenges, of the season to come.
On Micah Parsons' contract talks:
"It's an every year conversation, whether it's myself, Zack Martin, CeeDee Lamb and now Micah Parsons. It's part of it. Is it something I wish any of us would have to go through? Absolutely not, but he's doing a hell of a job with it — being here. He's a great teammate. Showing up not just on the field and being focused, but also the camaraderie of hanging out, dinner. He's not just doing it to sign off like, 'Hey Jerry [Jones], look at me.' He wants to be out there practicing and, honestly, I'm glad he's not. He can't do that to himself. That's the business of it. I do think he's taking great steps in being here.
"... I will say that he deserves to get paid, he should get paid and, going off of the history of what I've seen, he will get paid; and hopefully it's sooner than later."
On the chippiness and early fight in practice:
"It’s football. It’s high emotions. You've got guys out here competing for their life, for their jobs, and you've gotta have that edge. That's the difference right there — is how passionate these guys are. They're being taught and told to compete everyday. Some guys compete in different ways and when you put that together, at times you're going to have disagreements and those frustrations.
"But they've been doing a good job, for the most part, of [high] fiving each other up and looking each other in the face and remembering, 'This is my teammate and I'm not gonna take it there.' And also knowing you can't take it there on gameday either, so you learn from it and coach [Schottenheimer] says all the time: 'Be competitive without being combative.' I think that's a fine line and I think we're flirting with it, but I think that's healthy."
On running read-options in practice and using mobility as a weapon:
"I took off? Or just ran? Nah, I feel good. I'm healthy. It's been a long road to it. To be where I am now is a blessing.
"… It's something that I think about every time I step on the field. I'm staying where my feet are and not taking anything for granted. Now it's about continuing to push. It's one thing to be healthy but how much better can I get, now that I'm healthy? That's in the forefront of my mind. Feels good."
On where his health is to this point:
"It's about trusting the rehab process, which I have, but it's also about getting better. I can't just sit back and [be glad] the hammy is good. No. I need to push running. I need to continue to do things that got me to this point because it's only gonna get me healthier and allow me to do the things I want to do throughout the season, and that limits the risk of me injuring or reinjuring anything during the season.
It's about working without that injury on my mind. … I can't take a day off, and I don't. If anybody in that locker room doesn't believe [this can be a Super Bowl-winning roster], I'll ask them to get out. Schotty said on Day 1: "If you don't think we can win a Super Bowl, don't come out to Oxnard, because you're in the wrong place."
On how much fun he's having with Schottenheimer's offense:
"Tons of fun. I'm already having fun. Nothing's better than this game of football. It's always given me such amazing peace. It's been tough at times and you can forget that, but keeping that at the forefront of your mind, to have fun, is what leads it. And Schotty's a guy that has fun. We're gonna compete our asses off, but we're gonna have fun. And with having fun comes allowing everyone to be themselves. It's what we encourage — to be yourself.
"And having those different sets, different formations and different looks, that's the way I see the game and I've always seen the game. The more of that we get, I encourage. Sure, I might not be as fast or as quick as I once was but, trust me, I still enjoy running the ball. There's a time and there's a place for it.
"… I'm getting the ball into guys' hands like CeeDee early … or whether it be George [Pickens] on a five-yard route, or flipping it to [KaVontae Turpin] or one of these other backs who'll make guys miss and have fun. … You see the energy from both offense and defense. … All of that is fun."
On what motivates him most going into Year 10:
"Having fun and winning a Super Bowl, period. It's what I want from this game. It's what everyone wants in this locker room. We've got a head coach that's hungry for it. ... Winning winning winning. ... I'm 10 [years] in and ready to play another 10, but I want that, first and foremost, and now.
"That's the true f*ing motivation. That's the true, in your stomach, in your gut [craving], is wanting that. ... And I don't just want it for myself. I want it for this organization. ... The fans as well."
