Cowboys Andy Dalton: ‘I love being in Dallas’, focused on Eagles
The Dallas Cowboys desperately needed a reliable backup to Dak Prescott heading into the 2020 season. They filled the need by signing former three-time Pro Bowl signal-caller Andy Dalton to a one-year deal worth up to $7 million after four double-digit winning seasons during his days with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Tragedy struck the organization in Week 5 when Prescott suffered a season-ending ankle injury versus the New York Giants. Thrust into the starting lineup, the Cowboys are only 3-4 in Dalton’s seven starts. When asked if he’d like to return to Dallas the veteran had this to say.
“There’s a lot to be determined in the future. That’s not my focus right now,” Dalton said, via Jon Machota of The Athletic. “We’ve got two games left. … We’ll see what happens in the future, I’ve obviously enjoyed my time here. I love being in Dallas.”
Dalton’s love for Dallas shouldn’t be surprising considering his deep Texas roots. He grew up in Katy, Texas where he was named Offensive Player of the Year by the Houston Chronicle as a high school senior in 2005. He continued his football journey in the Lone Star State on the college level after committing to Texas Christian University (TCU). He would be selected as the Mountain West Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year twice (2009, 2010) and led the Horned Frogs to a victory in the 2011 Rose Bowl over Wisconsin to cap off a perfect 13-0 season.
Cowboys COO Stephen Jones made an appearance on 105.3 The Fan on Monday and expressed that the team would be interested in Dalton being back in Dallas.
“I think as we’ve gotten better certainly Andy is getting more confidence,” Jones said. We’re protecting the ball well. We’re not turning it over. He’s doing a great job, and certainly, we’d love to have him back.”
Getting Prescott inked to a long-term deal will be the top priority for the Cowboys in the offseason. If they’re successful, the backup role will still be of major importance, as has been proven in 2020.
As for this week, Dalton is excited the team’s been able to put back-to-back wins together towards the end of the season.
“This is the right time to be stringing some wins together. And, so, for us to finally get two back to back, the goal is now three, and, so, you just want to be playing your best ball at the end of the year. We’ve been able to do that. And, so, we got to keep that momentum going.”
That opportunity comes in a rematch game against the Eagles, which Dalton missed the first go around. “Obviously just a different week. I was going through the whole recovery process with the concussion. So, I wasn’t part of much of it. I got into some of the meetings towards the end of the week. But obviously this a whole different week for me this time.”
Dallas is depending on the outcome of other games to stay in the NFC East fight, but Dalton is focused on taking care of their own business. What happens after the season will play itself out in due time.
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