The Facts: The start of the NFL season is still seven months away but the clock is already ticking on the Dallas Cowboys. Any hope of them getting off to a good start is incumbent on signing Prescott to a long-term contract extension as soon as possible. There is no way the Cowboys want Prescott missing any time learning the new offense in Mike McCarthy’s first year, which makes getting such a new deal done urgent, according to vice president Stephen Jones. “We want to get this done,” Jones said Thursday. “Things are fixing to heat up. We want to put every foot forward and try to grind this out and get a deal done.”

Diehards Line: If the Cowboys do place the tag on Prescott, there is a chance he will not show for the off-season program in hopes of building leverage for a long-term deal. That means there are two key dates that will play in these negotiations: February 25, the first day teams can put the franchise tag on a player and April 6, the start of the off-season program. Jones said he fully understands the complications that could arise if the Cowboys don’t get a deal done and have to put the franchise tag on Prescott. That includes the possibility of him missing time in the off-season program in McCarthy’s first year. He said that is something no one wants. “I know he wants to get his contract in the rear view mirror and we want it too,” Jones said. “We want him to be treated well, financially and respectfully. We are going to have a real urgency to get this done.” Jones said the Cowboys are not currently involved in contract talks with any of their free agents, and Prescott remains the top priority. ... Stay tuned.