Cowboys Trade Of Dak Prescott 'Murmurs' Feature $86 Million Problem

The Dallas Cowboys' 33-30 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium on Sunday has seen the franchise hit rock bottom in the Brian Schottenheimer era.

And now calls have come from Cowboys Nation wanting to clean house.

Fire Schottenheimer! Dump Christian Parker! Let George Pickens walk!

Some have even called for a trade of Dak Prescott.

And I get it. You as a fan have had enough. ... and you are entitled to your passion.

But you are also entitled to the practical truths involved here.

The coaching-change ideas are one thing; I've argued there would be little harm in executing some of those, for how would they make Dallas worse than it is now?

A divorce from Pickens? If the Cowboys choose to give up on this season, it's an option worth discussing - as long as they get in exchange something better than the likely third-round compensatory pick they'd get if he walks via free agency.

But then there is the Dak Prescott idea ... which has blossomed into a rumor ... and now has mushroomed (yet again, because this is not a new phenomenon) into an actual "news story.''

How so?

Chris Simms stated "There’s been murmurs that Dallas is at the end of their rope with Dak, things better turn around or he ain’t gonna be the QB there."

Boomer Esiason has suggested on New York radio Dak be traded to the Chargers for Justin Herbert.

ESPN's "First Take'' has made an "embrace-debate'' living off discussing stuff like this.

What's real here?

1 - I am aware of no such "murmurs'' from inside The Star. 

2 - Prescott has a no-trade clause, so he would have to want out ... and he's not expressed any thoughts along those likes.

3 - And this is the most important one: 

A Cowboys trade of Dak (before the Nov. 10 deadline and also next spring) would force the franchise to eat $86 million in dead money.

In other words, the Cowboys would have to "pay the cap'' to not have Prescott as their QB.

I have reported all along that Prescott's contract allows for some escapability after 2028. But that does not exist right now. (Also worth noting: Some smart money still says Dallas is more likely to extend Prescott - for reasons of cap management and his talent - than it is to dump him).

It makes for juicy print, radio, TV and YouTube content to scream, "Trade Dak!'' And the passion behind the plea can be real.

It's just that the facts that drown out the plea make it unreal.