Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks Dak Prescott and Will Grier spoke after the team rallied to win their final preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders 31-16.
Dak Prescott on Calling the Plays During Preseason Game and Will Grier
Prescott discussed calling offensive plays during the game, saying he’s been around for a while now, and play calling wasn’t anything he didn’t already understand as far as the effort that goes into it.
“I mean, I’m not gonna sit here on my high horse like I just called the Super Bowl or something, so it was a game, and it was fun. It was fun to do and fun to experience that,” said Prescott.
Prescott said it doesn’t matter who calls the plays when the quarterback plays so well. He continued giving the credit where it was due: to Grier for playing lights out during what is likely to be the 2019 third-round pick’s final game with the Cowboys.
Grier had 305 passing yards and an 82.9 completion percentage. He helped the team score four touchdowns during the game, two of which were quarterback keepers that got him into the end zone on the ground.
“That’s who Will is, that’s who Will’s been from the time that he’s been here, and it was awesome that he got to go out there and put that performance on display and hope the rest of the world the rest of the league saw that and took notice,” said Prescott.
Prescott kept reiterating how he felt for Grier, saying that his mind and heart were with him right now because of the different circumstances.
Hearing Dak Prescott’s comments about Will Grier really hits home. Both men have spent a lot of time together since Grier joined the #Cowboys and he’s mentioned modeling his game after Prescott’s 🏈
A true brotherhood 🤟
(📸: @willgrier_ on IG) pic.twitter.com/h4Kpu2rzPD
— Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) August 27, 2023
Will Grier on His Final Game with the Dallas Cowboys
Grier spoke about the game, saying he felt conflicting emotions heading into kickoff.
“Bittersweet, man, I am just close with a lot of these guys. That’s the hardest part,” said Grier as he held back tears in his post-game interview.
He said having Prescott in the headset calling the plays during the game was fun for both him and the team’s franchise QB.
“It was a lot of fun for both of us, and I just want to see him [Prescott] go win the Super Bowl and get everything he deserves,” said Grier.
He later said, “At the end of the day, I just rely on the fact that I know how to play football, and I’m good at it. I knew when the game started I could just play football, and that’s what I did.”
Will Grier tonight:
29-of-35
305 passing yards
4 total TDs@willgrier_ | @DallasCowboys | #LVvsDAL pic.twitter.com/hvXsJLXQ0d— NFL (@NFL) August 27, 2023
Grier came into this game knowing that the acquisition of Trey Lance was likely the nail in the coffin for him in not making the final 53-man roster as the team’s third quarterback.
He said that his last two days have been tough but that he will rebound because he understands that the roster is a numbers game and cuts are in the nature of having a job in the NFL.
“I understand that it’s a business at the end of the day, and I respect that, and the hardest part on me is just leaving this place, to be honest. Just got really close with the team, and that’s the toughest part about what we do,” said Grier, still holding back tears in the interview.
A teary-eyed Will Grier bid his farewell to Dallas in spectacular fashion on Saturday night, as he cemented a legendary preseason performance with 358 total yards and 4 total touchdowns in a 31-16 win.
His emotion was on full display after the game.
(Video via @dallascowboys) pic.twitter.com/BGNZ4RfSMz
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisDC) August 27, 2023
Dak Prescott on Trey Lance
Prescott spoke about the trade for Lance as well.
“I understand it’s a business. That’s a first-round talent, and you’re always trying to make your team better. But that was the front office. We’re going to welcome [Lance] as we do any teammate, and hopefully, he makes us better, and then we’re gonna continue to get back at it. I know we’ve got one goal as a team,” said Prescott.
Before the game, Jerry Jones said that he had not talked to Prescott about the deal getting done with Lance.
MORE: Dallas Cowboys’ Mike McCarthy on Will Grier
When Prescott was asked if he expected a heads up, he said not necessarily, since he knows the business aspects that go into the trade.
But when he was asked if the trade surprised him, he said, “To be honest with you, I’m not surprised by anything anymore. You’ve been in this league eight years, been on this team. It’s hard to say that I was surprised, to be honest with you.”
As for how he views how the trade could impact any contract talk with the team for an extension, he said, “I going to leave those talks in the office where business is handled. So I mean, that’ll come at a time when that happens.”
