Cowboys QB Dak Prescott Apologizes For Praising Fans Who Threw Trash At Refs

Topline

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott apologized Tuesday for defending spectators who lobbed garbage toward NFL referees following the team’s disappointing playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers over the weekend. 

Key Facts

Prescott initially condemned the notion of throwing trash at players, but when reporters told him the debris appeared to be aimed at referees, he said, “credit to them, then.”

In a series of Tuesday evening tweets, Prescott said he “deeply regret[s]

” the comments, calling them a mistake borne of frustration over a season-ending defeat, and stated he has “always respected [NFL officials’] professionalism and the difficulty of their jobs.”

Crucial Quote

“I was caught up in the emotion of a disappointing loss and my words were uncalled for and unfair.,” Prescott tweeted.

Chief Critic

Prescott’s remarks drew consternation from some sports pundits. He also drew the ire of the National Basketball Referees Association, a union representing NBA and WNBA officials, which called his comments “deplorable” in a tweet Tuesday.

Key Background

The 49ers defeated the Cowboys 23-17 during the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs on Sunday, in a disappointing end to a season during which the team won its division with a 12-6 record. Prescott has played for the Cowboys since he was drafted in 2016, and the Associated Press named him NFL offensive rookie of the year in 2017. He drew scrutiny last year for deflecting questions about his Covid-19 vaccination status by claiming, “I think that’s HIPAA,” a common misinterpretation of a federal health information privacy law, before telling reporters months later that he’s vaccinated.

Big Number

$107.5 million. That’s Prescott’s total earnings over the 12-month period ending in April, making him the world’s fourth highest-paid athlete, by Forbes’ estimates.