Dak Prescott reacts to Cowboys fans throwing trash after brutal loss
There is no denying that Dallas Cowboys fans deserve to be frustrated after the team’s heartbreaking and disappointing 23-17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The Cowboys have now gone 11 straight playoff appearances without making the Conference Championship game.
But no matter how bad your team is, throwing trash onto the field is never the answer. Videos quickly surfaced on social media showing Cowboys fans throwing all kinds of things onto the field as players and personnel were exiting the field.
What your team did on the field was embarrassing enough. There is no need to embarrass the franchise further.
In the video below, you can literally see Cowboys defender DeMarcus Lawrence batting away something being thrown at him with his helmet. What was already a disgraceful situation was only made worse by comments made by Dak Prescott after the game.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott gives ‘credit’ to fans when he finds out they were throwing trash at referees instead of players
Reporters rightfully asked players and personnel about the scene in post-game interviews. When Prescott initially thought that fans were throwing food and drinks at the Cowboys players, this was his response:
"“No, I didn’t see that. 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.”"
When Prescott was later told that fans may have been intending to throw trash at the referees rather than his teammates, his answer changed entirely.
Dak Prescott asked about fans throwing debris after game. When thought fans throwing things at Cowboys and struck Demarcus Lawrence, he expressed disappointment. Then he was told fans threw trash at officials.
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) January 17, 2022
“Credit to them then,” Dak said. pic.twitter.com/Ir3jmlKCkn
For a guy who has remained even-keeled under immense pressure and talks of a slump, this was an uncharacteristically shameful response. It is entirely understandable that Prescott would be frustrated with the referees and the game in general. But that in no way makes it okay to condone a potentially dangerous situation caused by your fans. Whether he was joking or not, it just wasn’t funny.
Many who see Prescott as a positive figure and role model were upset with his comments. This is not the kind of response you want to see from your team’s leader and an NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee.
