LOL....in all fairness?
Seriously?
In all fairness, Jerry should have ripped up Dak's contract right after his rookie season and paid him the way you pay a quarterback that started every game while leading your team to a 13-3 season, including an 11 game winning streak, a season in which he had 5 come from behind victories and 5 game winning drives, a season in which he was ranked 3rd in passer rating, 4th in completion percentage, 2nd in least INT's, 4th in yards per attempt, 1st in rushing TD's and 1st in wins.
If you had a chance of signing a veteran free agent and you were confidant that he could deliver those kind of numbers, what would you pay him....in all fairness?
Dak wasn't drafted #1 overall. He didn't get big money as a rookie, based on potential only. He wasn't given half the season to acclimate himself to the NFL game, His coaching staff didn't wait for the "right time" or the "right game" to put him out on the field. He got thrown out on the field day #1.
Never mind the fact that he produced the best rookie season for a quarterback in NFL history, he played better than 29 of the 32 NFL starters that year, seasoned veterans, Pro Bowlers, guys that will get in the HOF.
And how much money did he earn that season? About the same as a 3rd team lineman? About the same as the deep snapper on the team? Was that fair?
Of course not. It wasn't fair. Jerry knew it wasn't fair. What did he do about it? Eventually he paid everyone else drafted that year....except Dak. That's what he did.
And now we want Dak to be smart? Screw smart. Dak's still working on fair.
What has Dak done since his rookie season?
Dak is ranked 3rd in NFL history for a QB's passer rating in their first four seasons in the NFL. Only two QB's have topped him, one is future HOFer Russel Wilson, the other is HOFer Kurt Warner who, "in all fairness" had been accruing experience in the Arena Football league as well as well as NFL Europe for four seasons prior to throwing his first NFL pass.
Dak is ranked 2nd in completion percentage behind Kurt Warner. He is ranked 4th in average yards per attempt, behind three HOFers. He is ranked 2nd in lowest INT percentage. He is in a 2nd place tie with Russel Wilson for game winning drives. He is ranked 3rd in rushing TD's.
Again, I am comparing his first four seasons to the first four seasons of every quarterback in NFL history. Almost all the quarterbacks that even come close were 1st round draft picks and the majority of those were drafted #1 or #2 overall. They got paid before they ever threw their first pass.
So.....in all fairness.....it's time for Jerry Jones to get smart....this time.