Jimmy Johnson is torching the Cowboys over Dak Prescott’s $240 million deal

Like every other America’s Team supporter, Jimmy Johnson has a lot to say about the Cowboys’ personnel changes over the last year.

During his appearance Wednesday on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” Johnson — who coached the storied franchise from 1989 to 1993 and won two Super Bowls — was asked what he would do with the Cowboys as they enter a critical offseason.

Johnson criticized the team’s decision to sign quarterback Dak Prescott for four years and $240 million.

“Well, first of all, they are so financially strapped by some of these contracts. First of all, I would never have given Prescott a new contract,” Johnson said, transcribed by Larry Brown Sports.

“I would let him play it. He is the highest paid player in the league. He’s not the best player in the league. He wouldn’t be going anywhere if they had taken him to the Super Bowl, hey, he wouldn’t be going anywhere no matter what he pays. If he struggled in the playoffs, negotiate. Or if he was injured, save money. But they’re so financially strapped at the moment I don’t know what they’re doing.”

Prescott, who has been under center in Dallas since 2016, agreed to a huge extension just hours before Dallas’ season opener against Cleveland. He was entering the final year of a four-year, $160 million contract signed in 2021.

Although that game was a highlight – a 33-17 road win in which Prescott threw one touchdown and no interceptions – the Cowboys’ season quickly took off.

Dallas had a five-game layoff that began in mid-October and ended with a 34-26 win over the Commanders last Sunday.

That win was led by backup quarterback Cooper Rush, who now starts for the Cowboys after Prescott suffered a hamstring injury in a Week 9 loss to the Falcons. He opted for season-ending surgery.

Before the injury, Prescott had thrown 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions in eight contests.

In addition to Prescott, Dallas gave star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb a four-year, $136 million contract extension in August after he held out in the offseason.

However, the Cowboys did not extend fifth-year coach Mike McCarthy, whose contract is expiring, and questions are looming about his future in Dallas after the season.

Although owner Jerry Jones hasn’t ignored the suggestion of a McCarthy extension, Johnson called attention to it on Wednesday.

“They are talking about changing coaches. I don’t know if a coaching change will help them because Mike McCarthy is a good football coach. I don’t know if the new coach can solve the problem,” he said.

Johnson is far from the only one who has criticized Jones and the Cowboys this season. Dallas’ legendary quarterback Troy Aikman blasted the team’s “lazy” receivers after an embarrassing loss in October.

That same month, when Jones made his weekly appearance on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, he apparently threatened to have the radio hosts fired for asking questions about the team’s offseason actions.

Dallas is 4-7 heading into Thursday’s NFC East matchup against the 2-9 Giants. Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. in Arlington.