What obligation do prominent athletes, such as Cowboys QB Dak Prescott, have to speak publicly about social causes?

Over the past week, protesters converged on city streets across the country, including Dallas, to voice their anger about the death of George Floyd, a black man who died when a white police officer stuck his knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes in Minneapolis.

The protests are a continuing cry against police brutality, especially against people of color. Numerous African-American and white athletes have spoken out against police brutality, either in rallies or on social media.

Various sports leagues and franchises have issued statements asking for change in the criminal justice system.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, and some of his prominent teammates, had yet to speak publicly on the issue as of Sunday evening. The Cowboys, as an organization, also had not addressed the issue publicly.

As quarterback, Prescott is the face of the Cowboys’ franchise. You know QB1 before you know anyone else on the roster.

So when does an athlete in such a prominent position speak out against something so polarizing? Is there an obligation?

“If someone has something to say and it’s of substance, of course they should speak out,” said Todd Boyd, a Ph.D. professor for the Study of Race and Pop Culture at USC. “I don’t think someone should speak out just for the sake of speaking out. Supposedly we enjoy free speech in this country, and so if someone sees something in those activities that prompts them to comment on it and what they have to say is substantive and of value, athletes are no different than anybody else in society in that regard.”

Prescott did not respond to a request for comment on this story, made through his publicist.

He’s in contract negotiations with the team, and whether he speaks against police brutality shouldn’t affect those talks. It also shouldn’t impact any current or future endorsement deals.

On Saturday morning, Adidas retweeted a Nike ad regarding racism. Two larger-than-life brands, coming together for one cause.

A few years ago, I ran into Prescott at the Cowboys’ team hotel just outside of San Francisco before the first preseason game of 2018. I asked about the criticism he was taking then for not speaking out more about former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick raising awareness of police brutality and the social ills against the poor.

Prescott didn’t shy away from the topic. He wanted me to know he was concerned about police brutality, and he supports Kaepernick. Prescott also pointed out his late mother was Native American and his family grew up poor in Louisiana. He made this distinction because he understands about the social ills that affect poor people of all races across this country.

But the criticism continued for Prescott that season for not making a strong public statement about Kaepernick and police brutality.

“We’re talking about black athletes,” said Boyd, who is African-American. “And we’re talking about racial issues, and to say something you might find there are people who might agree with you and embrace you and appreciate [that] you are using your platform to shed light on an issue. There will be other people who will be upset about what you said and only want to see you as an athlete, only as somebody there to entertain them and they might push back, so you have to be prepared for the pushback.”

Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan, who was criticized for not using his platform to address social issues during his NBA playing career with the Bulls, issued a statement Sunday that read in part: “I am deeply saddened, truly pained and plain angry. I see and feel everyone’s pain, outrage and frustration. I stand with those who are calling out the ingrained racism and violence toward people of color in our country. We have had enough. I don’t have the answers, but our collective voices show strength and the inability to be divided by others.”

Jordan also spoke to NBC’s Today show in 2019 about his reluctance to speak out publicly.

“When I was playing, my vision — my tunnel vision — was my craft. I was a professional player, I tried to do that the best I could,” he said. “Now I have more time to understand things around me, the causes, problems.”

A few Cowboys players have made statements on the death of Floyd. Newly signed backup quarterback Andy Dalton, who is white, tweeted his thoughts Friday night.

“I have had a heaviness about everything that has gone on with George Floyd and many others,” Dalton said in his tweet. “These racist acts are inexcusable and horrific. We have to fight against racism and not be naïve to the injustice that is happening.”

Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, an African-American, responded to a fan on Twitter questioning why he should talk about police brutality because he’s highly paid.

“HERE IS THE PROBLEM!” Lawrence said to a fan with the Twitter handle of @MatthewTroyer6. “Thinking that since I worked my a** off to earn a great living, makes me feel any safer in this country than any other minority living in fear cause of their skin color. I DON’T! YOUR mindset is the problem. But it’s not your fault, it’s all you know.”

The fan’s Twitter account no longer exists.

Cowboys defensive back coach Maurice Linguist made a statement Saturday after seeing peaceful protests turn into riots across the country.

“The feelings of pain and anger are real and they cut deep,” Linguist said. “THIS IS WRONG! Before I am a coach, I am a black man in America and as a leader of men, strength and leadership are needed the most during the hardest times.”

Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis tweeted, “Would you like to be treated like a black person in America? Answer that question, don’t need any explanations. Yes or no.”

Other prominent players on the Cowboys, such as Ezekiel Elliott, Sean Lee, Tyron Smith, Leighton Vander Esch, Zack Martin and Amari Cooper, have remained silent up to this point.

Cowboys players recently have shown support for the communities in which they grew up in various ways. Elliott paid for the funeral expenses for 14-year-old Jaylon McKenzie, who was killed last year by a stray bullet in Illinois. McKenzie was a featured in Sports Illustrated as rising middle school football player.

“Athletes are in a visible position,” Boyd said. “People pay a lot of attention to what they do. People sometimes pay attention to what they say. There’s a lot of people who would prefer to see athletes be seen and not heard, and let’s be honest here, we’re talking about black athletes. We never have these sorts of conversations when they involve white athletes. We don’t fly the same set of standards to such things.”

Find more Cowboys stories from The Dallas Morning News here.