Things turned ugly at AT&T Stadium as the Cowboys’ first-round playoff game went final, but one team leader’s comments about it are leaving an aftertaste that, for some, is even worse.
The contest’s chaotic final minute of regulation saw quarterback Dak Prescott drive the Cowboys offense 56 yards in under 30 seconds toward what looked like would be at least a chance at a heroic game-winning touchdown. But time expired before Prescott could spike the ball to stop the clock, and there were a few moments of confusion as officials conferred. When referee Alex Kemp keyed his mic and declared the game over, the hometown crowd voiced their displeasure… and more.
Videos shared on social media shortly after the 23-17 Dallas loss showed fans pelting the field with bottles and trash as the team headed for the tunnel.
#Cowboys fans throwing things at their own players. Got this sent to me by one. Be better fans wow! pic.twitter.com/mlVttbFlpg
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) January 17, 2022
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It’s a deplorable and dangerous scene that has, unfortunately, played out before at other stadiums. But as bad as it looked on the surface, the situation may have been made worse by comments made soon after; comments that came from the unlikeliest of sources.
When asked about it in his remarks to the media, Prescott admitted he was not aware of the fans’ postgame reaction.
“No, I didn’t see that,” the team captain told reporters. “It’s sad. You’re talking about a team, you’re talking about men coming out each and every day of their lives and give everything to this sport, give everything to this game of football. Nobody wants to succeed more than we want to succeed. I understand fans and the word ‘fan’ for fanatic, I get that. But to know everything that we put into this, day in and day out, try our hardest, nobody comes into the game wanting or expecting to lose, and for people to react that way when you’re supposed to be a supporter and be with us through thick and thin, that’s tough.”
But then Prescott was informed that the fans were more likely aiming at the officials, who were exiting the field alongside the team.
The normally even-keeled Prescott took the bait and went uncharacteristically nasty.
“Credit to them, then,” he said. “Credit to them.”
Full @dak response to fans throwing bottles at refs. pic.twitter.com/9S5bMNA2P4
— Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) January 17, 2022
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He got a laugh, but that’s a cringe-worthy look for the team’s leader and Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee.
Yes, his team had just lost a heartbreaking playoff game. Prescott himself knows he will be criticized as part of the controversy over the final play; whether he should have run the ball, whether he should have downed himself earlier to save a few precious seconds, why he handed the ball to his center instead of to the umpire as is generally taught, and so on.
It was the heat of the moment, immediately following a gutting loss that he and many in the Dallas locker room and throughout Cowboys Nation are pinning on the referees.
Prescott’s frustration with the officials and anger over how Sunday’s game ended are understandable, but praising fans for potentially inflicting bodily harm, even if a poor attempt at a joke, is going too far.
Later in the press conference, Prescott was asked to clarify his earlier comment. He didn’t walk anything back, and in fact suggested that the fans merely felt the same way about the officiating as he and his teammates did.
“I guess it’s why the refs took off and got out of there so fast,” he offered. “I think everybody was upset about the way that this thing played out.”
Yes, everybody who loves this team is upset about the loss.
But many who love this team’s quarterback and hold him up as a positive role model are now justifiably upset and disappointed about his thoughtless comments.
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