Cowboys ‘could not afford Derrick Henry,’ says Jerry Jones after Ravens loss

Dallas‘ run recreation struggled final season, and it would not seem that the choice to exchange Tony Pollard by bringing again Ezekiel Elliott — whereas a number of different veteran working backs had been accessible in free company this offseason — is understanding.

In Week 3, Baltimore jumped out to a 28-6 lead vs. Dallas thanks largely to Derrick Henry, including insult to harm. The four-time Professional Bowler, who joined the Ravens on a two-year deal this offseason, gashed the Cowboys’ run protection to the tune of 151 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. After the Ravens fended off a pass-centric Cowboys comeback and held on for a 28-25 win, Henry was named FOX Sports activities NFL analyst Tom Brady‘s LFG! Participant of the Recreation for his efforts.

Henry earned reward from Cowboys crew proprietor and basic supervisor Jerry Jones — the person who may’ve had a hand in Henry probably suiting up in blue and silver as a substitute of purple and black this season.

“Hats off to him,” Jones mentioned to reporters after the sport, through ESPN. “He had an important day as we speak. Have all of the respect on the planet for him, and so that is what occurs when you do not signal good ones.Â

“They’ll come again and have an important recreation towards you. However [the] backside line is, we could not afford Derrick Henry.”

Jones confronted intense scrutiny for the way Dallas approached this previous offseason after the group dragged out contract extension negotiations with star broad receiver CeeDee Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott, failing to comply with new offers with their two offensive cornerstones till simply earlier than the beginning of the common season. Many have identified that the crew may have slot in the same contract for Henry underneath their wage cap had they agreed to extensions with Lamb and Prescott earlier within the offseason. Nonetheless, Jones insisted to reporters Sunday that Henry was priced out of Dallas’s vary.

“Why cannot you purchase a mansion once you dwell in a special sort of home?” Jones questioned. “We could not afford him. We won’t make that every one match. That is so simple as that.”

The Cowboys are actually 1-2 on the season and have a fast turnaround earlier than going through the NFC East rival New York Giants on Thursday. Dallas is averaging simply 73.7 dashing yards per recreation by their first three weeks of the 2024 season — the fourth-worst within the league coming into Monday.

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