FRISCO - I have suggested for months that the Dallas Cowboys would sign QB Dak Prescott before their Week 1 game. Having gone out on that limb, I've opted to remain there, even this week sticking my prediction. Here it is Friday ... and Cowboys COO Stephen Jones seems to be willing to crawl out there on the limb with me.

“We’re still holding out hope that we can figure out how to come up with a deal by the game on Sunday,'' said Jones on 105.3 The Fan on Friday at about 3:30 p.m.

So ... that gives both sides literally a matter of hours, as Sunday's game kicks off at 3:25 p.m. at AT & T Stadium. Is that realistic? I've tried to make the point that amid all the reporting that's been done about the Cowboys and CAA being "close'' or "not close,'' about Dallas wanting to pay around $30 mil a year and Dak countering with desiring $40 mil APY (or the number that's been suggested to me, $36 mil), about whether the Carson Wentz contract changed everything and about whether the Jared Goff contract changed it all again, Dallas and Dak are truly one phone call away from getting this done.

If they don’t do so before Sunday's game, Stephen says the Cowboys are “open for business” to continue talks during the season. But most any player would prefer to have the security of a gigantic pile of money before putting his body in harm's way ... and the Cowboys are of the same mind.

"We're willing to bet our future on Dak Prescott,'' owner Jerry Jones recently told me, and that "bet'' -- and that "future'' can conceivably, when it comes to a new contract, arrive within hours.