The lasting image of the Washington Commanders’ 45-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day was quarterback Dak Prescott eating a turkey leg — during the game.
Midway through the fourth quarter, once Dallas had opened up a 38-10 lead by that point, cameras showed Prescott on the sideline eating the turkey leg.
Eating a turkey leg after the Thanksgiving Day games has been a longtime NFL tradition the legendary John Madden started. But it was always after the game when the players spoke on the field in postgame interviews.
As it turns out, eating the turkey while the game was going on was always the plan, according to Prescott.
“Team effort, team idea,” Prescott said after the game. “We talked about as probably a two, three-day long process of whether it be a 15-yard penalty and whether coach would accept it. And I’ll tell you, I actually go talk to coach before every game, and sure enough, I caught him as he was talking to [Cowboys owner] Jerry [Jones], and so I mentioned it. Of course, Jerry liked it, so yeah. At that point, my direction was just make sure we’re up, and the game was in hand, and so the touchdown to CeeDee [Lamb] and the following two-point conversion, if you watch, I’m kinda like, is it time? Can we do it? I’m like, no, we’ll get another one. Sure enough, right after I threw that one to Turp [KaVontae Turpin], I was like, yeah, let’s go for it. And so, and it was good.”
It was clearly planned, as the Cowboys had turkey wrapped in to-go containers in the Salvation Army baskets around the field, per Ben Standig of The Athletic.
The disrespect was planned from the jump. My guy @jonmachota said the team had turkey wrapped in to-go containers in each one of those Salvation Army baskets around the field. Diabolical.pic.twitter.com/EiUa2e9aHe https://t.co/i0PCQb90kN
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) November 24, 2023
That tells you everything you need to know about how the Cowboys view the Commanders. Every Washington player should be outraged. Every player should be ticked off. Why? Because the Cowboys knew they’d be up big when they planned this stunt.
Yet another slap in the face of the 2023 Washington Commanders. Hey, if you don’t want it to happen, beat them. Easier said than done, for sure.
It would be entertaining to hear someone ask Ron Rivera what he thought about this. Would he say,” That’s interesting, but it’s not important.” Or, would he say, “The truth of the matter is……..”
Regardless, the image of Prescott eating a turkey leg during the game is one Washington fans will remember for a while. Do you believe the players who’ll return next year will remember that image and want some retribution?
