Prescott aspires to be best QB in Cowboys' history

Quarterback Dak Prescott is setting the bar extremely high for his future with the Dallas Cowboys.

How high? Well, consider his answer when asked about the pressure for playing for a contract this season.

"It's not any pressure," Prescott said, via the Dallas Morning News. "I want to be the best I can. I want to be the best quarterback that the Cowboys ever had. So when I go in each and every day, it's just about being the best player I can be. All that stuff comes when you play the game well."

Let's get back to the part that stated he wanted to be the "best quarterback that the Cowboys ever had." Well, Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame while four-time Pro Bowl selection Tony Romo owns most of the team's passing marks -- including the all-time leading passer in Cowboys history with 34,183 yards and 248 touchdown passes.

Coach Jason Garrett said he is not surprised by Prescott's attitude and approach.

"I don't think it's a good idea for anybody to ever think about their contract when they're playing," Garrett said, per the Dallas Morning News. "You want to approach the game as a professional and strive to be your best every day. That's what we try to instill in our guys regardless of what the business side of football is. You really don't have to tell Dak that. That's what he's all about. That's part of how he approaches it every day since the minute he got here."

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has promised an "extraordinary contract" and executive vice president Stephen Jones said last week that "it's going to be as he deserves."

Prescott, a fourth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, has a $630,000 base salary this season and is slated to make $720,000 in 2019.

The 24-year-old has started every game the past two seasons and has posted a 22-10 record, winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and helping the Cowboys to the playoffs in 2016 with an NFC-best 13-3 record. The Cowboys weren't as fortunate in 2017 after registering a 9-7 mark to miss the playoffs with Prescott throwing 22 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions.

Prescott has thrown for 6,991 yards with 45 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in two seasons, during which he owns a 22-10 record. He has also rushed for 639 yards and 12 scores on 114 carries.