“Been tackled on concrete”: Dak Prescott dismisses Maracana surface concerns

As questions continue to swirl around the condition of the playing surface at Rio de Janeiro's iconic Maracaña Stadium, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott appears to have little interest in joining the debate.

Ahead of Sunday's highly anticipated matchup between the Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens, Prescott delivered a memorable response when asked about concerns surrounding the grass field that has drawn attention throughout the week. "Not a lot goes into that for me. I trust my equipment, the cleats that I'm going to have," Dak said. "Not really even looking into the news about how people feel about the field. If it's the surface we're going to play on, let's go do it."

Then came the quote that quickly captured attention. "Where I'm from, I've played on worse. Been tackled on concrete. So the fact that the grass is soft, we'll take it, I'll take it anyways. I hope not to hit it anyways." The comments reflect the mindset Prescott has carried throughout his NFL career.

While others have focused on reports regarding the stadium's turf conditions, the veteran quarterback has maintained confidence that the league would not allow the game to proceed if the field were unsafe. His head coach, Brian Schottenheimer, has expressed similar confidence throughout the week as Dallas prepares for one of the most unique road trips in franchise history.

A milestone moment for Prescott

The trip to Brazil r epresents more than just another regular-season game. For the first time in his 11 NFL seasons, Prescott will play an international game, adding another milestone to a career that has already included multiple playoff appearances, Pro Bowls and countless high-profile moments.

The Cowboys arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Friday before holding practice at Flamengo's training facility, one of the most recognizable sports venues in Brazil. For Prescott, the experience has provided an opportunity to reflect on how far both he and the NFL have come .

"Surprised it's been this long, but excited it's here and it's in Brazil for the first time, a place I've never been," Prescott said. "Obviously just trying to expand the game to all the different places." The quarterback understands that Sunday's contest is about more than two teams battling for a victory. It is also part of the NFL's broader effort to grow the sport internationally and introduce new audiences to American football.

The Cowboys' global appeal

Few franchises are better positioned to help that mission than the Cowboys. Prescott acknowledged that one of the unique aspects of playing for Dallas is the team's enormous worldwide following. No matter where the Cowboys travel, they are likely to find fans wearing the star logo.

"I don't know if there's any place in the world that there's not a good bit of Cowboys fans," Prescott said. "That's the awesome part about playing for this organization." The quarterback added that he hopes Brazilian fans attending the game will have an opportunity to experience Cowboys football firsthand, perhaps for the first time.

That responsibility is something Prescott says he thinks about regularly. "It's something that I think about each and every game, is 'Who's watching for the first time?' Or, 'Who's trying to pick up this game, and how can I inspire them?'"

Of course, while the international spotlight and field discussions have dominated headlines, the Cowboys still have a difficult football challenge waiting for them. The Ravens arrive in Rio with one of the NFL's most talented rosters, making Sunday's matchup one of the marquee games of the early season.