ORLANDO – The honor is something all players covet. But actually being there is a different story.
That's basically the mindset for all players regarding the Pro Bowl, which is played in Orlando this year.
For most of the players, the reality of making it to the Super Bowl had vanished weeks ago if not longer. But for the Cowboys, the No. 1 seed in the NFC, they seemed somewhat destined to make it to the Super Bowl, which of course would've kept them out of the Pro Bowl this week.
While it hasn't been easy, the players and coaches have either completely gotten over the loss to the Packers, or at least getting close.
"The season is over," quarterback Dak Prescott said. "I can't do anything about it. I accept it. But I'm ready to get back to work. I'm passed it."
Wide receiver Dez Bryant, who was added to the Pro Bowl as an alternate earlier this week, said he's "pretty much" gotten over the playoff loss.
"It is what it is," Dez said walking off the field Wednesday with his NFC teammates. "You've got to move on. But yeah, it hurt the way it went down."
Head coach Jason Garrett, whose staff is coaching this game for the second time in three seasons, said the Pro Bowl is a good place to get your mind off of frustrations that might have occurred earlier in the season.
In 2014, the Cowboys coached the Pro Bowl in Arizona after losing a disappointing Divisional Playoff game to the Packers.
"You have to do that in this league," Garrett said about moving on. "You really have to focus on the task at hand. We did a lot o great things in 2016. There's a lot of things we can build on going into 2017. We're excited about that opportunity and excited to get moving forward."
Prescott said the offseason will start for him "pretty soon" after he gets back from Florida.
"I'm ready to get back to work again," Prescott said. "You can't look back to the season or anything. But you can definitely use those moments to fuel the fire. We're going to have some fun this week but we're going to get back at it when we get back."
