National Football League

Ravens defensive coordinator claims Dak Prescott is no longer a rookie

Published Dec. 9, 2016 1:01 p.m. ET

Andrew Lynch

Don't expect the Baltimore Ravens to be impressed by first-year quarterback Dak Prescott when they face the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday — because defensive coordinator Dean Pees doesn't believe it's fair to label the young signal-caller as a rookie at this point in his career.

Via NFL.com:

"I don't know after nine games if he's considered a rookie anymore," Pees said, via NFL Network's Mike Garafolo "You could say he's a first-year player. I don't think he's a rookie anymore. This guy's seen a bunch of stuff now. They played three divisional teams that you know throw at him everything they can throw at him and nobody's rattled him. I don't look at him as a rookie. I look at him as another quarterback that's an excellent, excellent talent. We don't think about that at all. If this was going to be his first game starting, I'd say OK we have a rookie quarterback going in. But not when you're 8-1 and he's taken them all the way and they've demolished some people."

I mean, not to be a stickler, but Prescott is definitely a rookie. Sorry, coach.

He's playing like a veteran, sure — in fact, Prescott is on pace for the best passer rating by a rookie since the merger (with a minimum of 100 pass attempts) — but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Prescott's performance this season is even more impressive precisely because he's only nine games into his NFL career. It's scary to think how good he might be next season with a year of experience under his belt, let alone five years down the line.

And maybe that's Pees' point. If you just imagine that Prescott is already a wily ol' vet, it's a lot easier to wrap your mind around what the Cowboys QB is doing this season. Pees has a defense to prepare, after all. He doesn't have time to watch in awe like the rest of us.