Jerry Jones Hints at Ezekiel Elliott for Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor … and Coach Jimmy Johnson?!

Jerry Jones Hints at Ezekiel Elliott for Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor … Triggering Coach Jimmy Johnson Controversy

FRISCO - As predicted by CowboysSI.com columnist Richie Whitt, New England Patriots running back Ezekiel Elliott’s Week 4 return to play against his old Dallas Cowboys pals would eventually trigger Ring of Honor talk from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

Well, that didn’t take long.

"Zeke had a lift to it for the whole franchise," Jones said on Friday on 105.3 The Fan, saying that Elliott will be considered for the Cowboys' Ring of Honor.

Whitt also predicted that as soon as Jerry brings up honoring Zeke - which will happen in one form (likely a video tribute “surprise” at AT&T Stadium - the next logical question and/or controversy will be about Jones having broken his promise to induct in a timely fashion his Hall of Fame “frenemy” coach Jimmy Johnson.

As Whitt wrote it: "When Zeke returns to AT&T Stadium as a member of the New England Patriots Sunday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones promises a “surprise” welcome. Wouldn’t it be on-brand if Jerry announced Elliott, too, was going into the Ring of Honor before Jimmy Johnson?"  

Jimmy Johnson, Ezekiel Elliott, Jerry Jones

And away we go, with DeMarcus Ware having already leapfrogged a chronological predecessor in Johnson, who with Jones led Dallas to its trio of 1990 Super Bowl titles, here comes a major debate …

Which is probably part of the point for the marketing-minded Jones, who demonstrated that mindset this week when celebrating Taylor Swift’s newfound interest in the NFL and how (in terms of eyeballs and revenue) it “moves the needle.”

Ware was announced in August to be the team's latest induction to the Ring of Honor, and there is nothing wrong with that. But it does cause a long list of old-timers who Cowboys Nation believes have been overlooked to keep waiting.

And if Zeke jumps the line? Dallas, which opted to release Elliott after the 2022 season in coordination with the emergence of Tony Pollard, will be honoring a two-time NFL rushing champ and a seven-year heart-and-soul Cowboy. … 

While at the same time arguably “dishonoring” so many legends who came before him - including of course Jimmy Johnson.

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