Emmitt Smith believes Dak will sign: Cowboys can't keep 'playing chicken'

As the Dallas Cowboys continue to hold long-term contract talks with Dak Prescott, Emmitt Smith believes the franchise-tagged quarterback will agree to a deal sooner rather than later.

However, the Hall of Fame running back isn't surprised that Prescott's new contract has yet to be completed.

"If you understand the business of leverage, when you have leverage then you try to set the rules," Smith said Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan. "And the only way you fight leverage is you fight it by establishing your ground. ... I think at some point this stuff will subside and it's not that important right now. ... It's important to press people that need something to talk about because you don't have much to talk about because we don't have camps and minicamps and so forth."

Smith added, "Dak is not worried whether or not he's going to get signed. I'm not even concerned. I believe he will get it done. And I believe the Cowboys will get it done because we don't have room to be playing games or playing chicken."

Dallas placed its exclusive tender on Dak this offseason, which means he can't negotiate with another team. If a long-term extension isn't agreed upon by July 15, he'll earn $33 million on the one-year deal.

The Pro Bowl passer won't participate in the Cowboys' virtual offseason program without a long-term deal, but the two sides reportedly had "very positive" conversations in late April.

Prescott reportedly turned down a new contract worth $33 million annually with $105 million guaranteed in March, but Smith strongly believes the 26-year-old can lead Dallas to a Super Bowl when he returns.

"No doubt," Smith said. "I believe he is. And I think he's getting better. I think he has so much more room to grow and I think he'll get there. I think overall, we have a lot of the pieces of the puzzle in place. It's a matter now of making sure - the key to any team is, essentially, developing the chemistry, which you definitely need.

"If they can get to that level and develop that chemistry in this timeframe which they have to work with, then I think you will (see) Dak not only flourish and grow, I think you see that team mature and rally behind their quarterback. ... I think he'll be fine. I love the kid."