NFL analyst "fact checks" Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’ excuse over failing to afford $16,000,000 Derrick Henry contract
Jerry Jones saw what most NFL fans watched on Sunday between the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys. While the final score indicates a close loss, the game was anything but close.
One of the reasons for the Ravens' domination of the Cowboys was running back Derrick Henry. Earlier in the year, the Cowboys had the opportunity to pick up the running back, who had concluded his tenure with the Tennessee Titans. However, Jerry Jones claimed on Sunday that the team "couldn't afford" Henry, via Cowboys reporter Jon Machota.
Speaking in response to the claim, NFL analyst Mike Greenberg didn't hold back on Jones during Monday's episode of "Get Up:"
“But that cannot be gone unchecked. We must fact check things like that. You know how you easily could have afforded Derrick Henry? If you had paid CeeDee Lamb when you should have. ... If they had decided to treat the offseason like it began before September 1st, they could easily have afforded Derrick Henry and a lot of other pieces.
“What you saw on display yesterday was a team that during the offseason got worse and more expensive, which is bad management. It is bad ownership, it’s bad leadership from a football standpoint."
Greenberg's comments claim that the price for Prescott and Lamb would have been cheaper this season had they been signed earlier, which would have allowed the Cowboys to sign Henry. Instead, both Prescott and Lamb's late-offseason leverage and pressure on Jones forced him to give up a greater salary than he otherwise would have.
Also, with the quarterback and receiver unsigned, the final budget for the Cowboys' season was unknown, which is another additional factor that likely kept Jones from making an investment in Henry.
Prescott signed a four-year, $240 million extension, while CeeDee Lamb signed a four-year, $136 million extension. Lamb, meanwhile, signed a two-year, $16 million contract.
Had they added Henry, he would have become the top back in the running back room, which now is a combination of Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott.
Jerry Jones' Cowboys off to worst start since Covid-19 season
The Dallas Cowboys took their second loss in their first three games for the first time since 2020. Dak Prescott's team ended up going 6-10 that season. He also suffered a season-ending injury.
Prescott ended up going 2-3, throwing for nine touchdowns and four interceptions. This year, after playing three games, he is 1-2 and has thrown for four touchdowns and two interceptions. Put simply, the numbers are at a similar pace. Of course, if Prescott can stay healthy, Jerry Jones' Dallas Cowboys likely have a shot at a better record than 6-10, but one can only wait and see.
If any of the above quotes are used, credit "Get Up," and H/T Sportskeeda.