The Dallas Cowboys’ 7-10 season, a campaign filled with frustration and unmet expectations, has already cost head coach Mike McCarthy his job. In the aftermath, speculation is swirling about who will take over the reins, with Deion Sanders emerging as a rumored candidate.
While Jerry Jones and the Cowboys are busy preparing for their next round of coaching interviews, a surprising storyline emerged from the NBA world involving their star quarterback, Dak Prescott.
Prescott, who holds the title of the NFL’s highest-paid player with an average salary of $60 million per year, has often been a polarizing figure. The Cowboys’ struggles, fair or not, are frequently laid at his feet. This week, however, criticism came from an unlikely source: Cade Cunningham, the Detroit Pistons’ budding NBA star.
Cunningham, known for his skills on the hardwood, stirred the pot during an interview when he was asked which NFL teams he would consider playing for if he ever transitioned to football. “Cowboys, or the Lions,” Cunningham said, raising eyebrows. When pressed on which position he would play and whose role he would take, Cunningham didn’t hesitate to aim high.
“I would play quarterback,” he declared confidently. When the interviewer followed up with a question about whether he thought he was better than Prescott, Cunningham replied, “Not right now, but two, three months’ work.” His comments set social media ablaze, as fans weighed in on the NBA star’s confidence.
“I always hear them talking like they can come on the NBA court, but I think I can get on that field,” Cunningham added, referring to the ongoing debate about whether professional athletes can successfully transition between sports. His statement drew both support and criticism, as fans and analysts dissected his remarks.
“Bar isn’t that high,” quipped one fan, referencing the Cowboys’ season and Prescott’s polarizing performance. Another chimed in, “Cade is slowly becoming one of my favorite players in the league.” Meanwhile, some fans empathized with Prescott’s predicament, with one writing, “Dak always catching strays,” punctuated by a laughing-crying emoji.
While Cunningham’s remarks may have been lighthearted, they underscore the intense scrutiny Prescott faces as the leader of America’s Team. With the Cowboys looking to bounce back from a disappointing season, Prescott’s ability to silence critics like Cunningham—and lead the team to success—will undoubtedly be a major storyline in the coming months.
For now, Cade Cunningham’s confident challenge is a reminder of the playful, and at times contentious, intersection between professional sports.