Jerry Jones hints at potential addition for Dallas Cowboys' Ring of Honor addition that would be a mistake
For the first time since former Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence went viral for an unexpected jab at his former team, owner Jerry Jones got to comment on the drama on Tuesday when he talked to reporters at the NFL annual meeting.His stance? He thought it was relatable, saying "he's like me." "I have a […]
For the first time since former Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence went viral for an unexpected jab at his former team, owner Jerry Jones got to comment on the drama on Tuesday when he talked to reporters at the NFL annual meeting.
His stance? He thought it was relatable, saying "he's like me."
"I have a lot of goodwill, I have a big place in my heart for what he gave the Dallas Cowboys, and I appreciate what he was as a leader," Jones told reporters. "If I let a choice of words couch what I think about him, then I'm not really much in that relationship. He's in so many other ways shown me where his heart is, how he felt, how he felt about being a Cowboy. So I paid no attention to that at all."
Jones' stance is unsurprising. After all, he's the owner of the team and worked closely with Lawrence for a decade, seeing many highs and lows with the defensive end. What is surprising is that Jones hinted at Lawrence potentially joining the franchise's Ring of Honor down the road.
"It will have zero input on what he said as to when I'm thinking about the Ring of Honor," Jones added. "Zero. It won’t be anything but pluses for Lawrence."
Though he didn't explicitly say he was looking at Lawrence as a likely addition to the exclusive club shown around AT&T Stadium to honor team legends, the fact that it's even in his mind is unexpected.
Lawrence's career in Dallas was certainly a very good one. For a long time, he was one of the best defensive ends in the NFL and one of the most underrated ones. But I wonder if adding him to the Ring of Honor undermines the meaning of it.
After all, Lawrence has no first-team All-Pros in his career. In 2017, his 14.5 sacks earned him second-team All-Pro honors but that was one of two seasons in which he got double-digit sacks. With four Pro Bowls and little to no playoff success, is his resume Ring of Honor worthy?
In 2023, Jones described the Ring of Honor's meaning as "What it's about is the people that have impacted the franchise, that have made a major mark on what you think of when you think of the Dallas Cowboys."
There are three players in the Ring of Honor who primarily played defensive line: DeMarcus Ware, Bob Lilly, and Randy White.
Let's check the record: Ware had 117 sacks in nine years in Dallas and earned All-Pro honors seven times. Lilly had seven first-team All-Pros and is still known as Mr. Cowboy. He won a Super Bowl with Dallas. White matches Lilly's first-team All-Pros and is a Super Bowl MVP. They all have busts in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
If we objectively assess whether or not Lawrence is in that tier, the answer is no. It's not the Hall of Very Good we're talking about, it's the Ring of Honor. Many would do anything to have the career he's had so far. He should be looked up to. But what the Ring of Honor stands for must also be protected.
Though it might be painful to admit it, inducting D-Law would probably diminish the meaning of it.
