Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott revealed Wednesday that he has struggled with anxiety and depression, which has only intensified since his older brother, Jace, committed suicide in April. Prescott said that Jace “had a lot of burdens,” and he – Prescott – encouraged people to reach out for help if they need it.
It was an emotional, much-needed message.
On Thursday, however, Skip Bayless took Prescott to task for publicly revealing “weakness” and said he shouldn’t have done that because “he’s the quarterback of America’s team.”
Zach Gelb could not believe it.
“Skip Bayless is an absolute moron,” Gelb said on The Zach Gelb Show. “There’s no other way of putting it. For years and years and years, Skip Bayless says things that I truly don’t think he believes just to get a reaction out of people and just because of his contract, [which is worth] millions and millions and millions of dollars. I’ve always said this: when I step behind this microphone, I only say things that I believe. I will not get in front of this microphone and say things that I don’t believe. Skip Bayless, with all of his ridiculous takes throughout the years, I really don’t believe he believes in the crap and the nonsense that he spews.
“Today, though – and I can’t keep track of all of his idiotic opinions – but today he crossed the line,” Gelb continued. “Today, it may be the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard someone make an issue out of where there shouldn’t be an issue. . . . Who the heck are you to say if Dak Prescott should go public with this story? Who are you to tell him how he should grieve? It’s despicable. . . . I really want to punch Skip Bayless in the face after what he said. I know that may be harsh, but what he said was so insensitive. He basically makes it seem as if if you have depression or if you have mental health issues that it's a weakness. What? So if someone needs help, they shouldn't go get help? . . . You watch that segment. If you honestly believe that Skip Bayless believes what he's saying, then you're a damn fool."
Gelb commended Prescott for having the courage to speak up about his struggles, as well as his brother’s struggles.
“It’s okay to say that something’s wrong,” Gelb said. “It’s okay to say, ‘I need help, and I need to get to a better spot in life.’ A lot of times people that need help are sometimes afraid to get help because they feel as if they’re letting down their family and they don’t want to disappoint their family – when in reality I’m sure a lot of those families would embrace them and go get them the help that they need.”
Prescott’s mother, Peggy, died of colon cancer in 2013. Her passing had a profound effect on her family and sent Jace into a tailspin.
“[Prescott’s interview] is emotional,” Gelb said. “It is something that is such a serious talking point. And Dak was even saying during the early stages of the pandemic he was depressed, and then he got maybe the most sleep that he’s got recently, and then he finds out that his brother took his own life.”
Prescott encouraged other people to not bottle things up, to get help if they need it.
“Look at the courage of Dak Prescott,” Gelb said. “Look at Dak Prescott sharing his story and hopefully that story can inspire someone that needs help. Even if it only changes one person, it’s worth sharing. He didn’t have to share it, but he went public with it, and I respect the heck out of Dak Prescott. No matter what you think of him as a quarterback, I respect the man that is Dak Prescott for sharing that story. There could be someone listening to the show right now that is depressed, that needs help, and they go watch Dak Prescott and they get inspired to go get the help that the need. The message that was sent, it was powerful.”