What did Jerry Jones say was the reason the Cowboys didn’t sign RB Derrick Henry?

Let’s face it. The Dallas Cowboys made a lot of questionable decisions during the offseason. One of the biggest of those was their decisions at running back. The Cowboys let Tony Pollard go to the Tennessee Titans and instead re-signed their former star Ezekiel Elliott, who they released one year prior and who has done nothing noteworthy since 2019.

They then decided to go with a committee approach, utilizing Elliott, Rico Dowdle, and Deuce Vaughn as their starters.

Why the Cowboys didn’t sign Derrick Henry

The Baltimore Ravens also signed a former Pro Bowl running back during free agency - Derrick Henry. Henry came into Dallas on Sunday and racked up 151 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the Ravens’ 28-25 win over the Cowboys.

It was not lost on anyone that the Cowboys could have had Henry for themselves. Elliott, in stark contrast, finished that game with three carries for six yards. The entire Dallas team only gained a total of 51 rushing yards, while Baltimore racked up 274.

This had fans wondering why Cowboys owner Jerry Jones didn’t sign Henry to the team when he had the chance. But Jones says he was never even considering it.

“Hats off to him. He had a great day today, and [I] have all the respect in the world,” said Jones. “So that’s what happens when we don’t sign good ones; they can come back and have a great game against you. Bottom line is we couldn’t afford him.”

“Why can’t you buy a mansion when you live in a different kind of house you couldn’t afford?” Jones went on. “You can’t make that all fit. Simple as that.”

The Ravens signed Henry to a two-year, $16 million deal. Elliott will make $2 million in one season with the Cowboys, who had to save up to pay quarterback Dak Prescott his $60 million and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb his $34 million. Clearly their priorities were in the passing attack, although that didn’t prove helpful in their loss to the Ravens on Sunday (nor their Week 2 loss to the Saints or even their Week 1 win over the Browns...).

Despite the ugly start to the season for the running back committee approach that Dallas is using, Jones and head coach Mike McCarthy are sticking to that plan, hopeful it will eventually lead to some success.

“We don’t have enough run attempts,” McCarthy said. “I thought our guys, you know, for the looks that they had, I didn’t feel discouraged about the run game at all.” Well, that’s nice isn’t it? If 51 total rushing yards does not discourage you then I don’t know what will.