As owner of the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones has been pretty open-minded when it comes to giving talented players second and even third chances. So, it should come to no surprise he is “keeping a very close eye” on the NFL’s newest troubled player, Kareem Hunt, according to a statement he made recently on 105.3 The Fan.
“Yes, keeping a very close eye, and have a very keen interest in how this plays out. It’s a challenging area about what we’re about…everyone has zero tolerance for domestic abuse,” said Jones.
Leave it to Jerry Jones to say something so vague that can be misconstrued on several different levels. There is really no way of knowing exactly why he is so interested in the Kareem Hunt case, which is why I thought I would attempt to crawl inside his head to decipher what he could possibly be thinking.
The Kareem Hunt case is interesting though on so many different levels. There is actual video evidence of the altercation thanks to TMZ, unlike the hearsay with Ezekiel Elliott that ended up looking more and more like a witch hunt by the NFL and Roger Goodell. You can bet that could be one of the reasons why Jerry Jones’ interest has been piqued, but I can guarantee he’s not the only one watching closely to see how this plays out.
Before I get too off-topic, let me get back to the elephant in the room. Why is Jerry Jones “keeping a very close eye” on the Kareem Hunt case? Let’s jump into his thought process to determine what he could possibly be thinking…
Considering an Ezekiel Elliott/Kareem Hunt Tandem?
Since Jerry Jones isn’t shy about adding “troubled” players to the Dallas Cowboys roster, there have already been quite a few people who believe Kareem Hunt will eventually end up with the organization. I highly doubt it happens, but a Ezekiel Elliott/Hunt tandem in the Cowboys backfield would be something dreams are made of, not to mention really fun to watch.
No offense to Rod Smith or any other running back on the Cowboys roster, but they don’t really have someone who is capable enough in the eyes of the coaching staff to cut into Zeke’s heavy workload. Pairing Hunt with Zeke would give Dallas a two headed monster and give them the best RB duo in the league. That would fit right into their run first mentality.
Hunt of course is looking at least a six-game suspension. Jerry Jones would have to be comfortable with the backlash he would receive by bringing him aboard, but we’ve seen him make such moves in the past. I definitely believe it’s something that has crossed his mind. As a football movement makes sense, but it without a doubt hurts the Cowboys brand and their public image.
Kareem Hunt an Ezekiel Elliott Replacement?
We are getting to the point in Ezekiel Elliott’s career the Dallas Cowboys have to start considering whether or not they want to sign him to a long-term extension. It could be as early as this upcoming offseason, or they could wait until after 2019. Adding a young, talented, and cost-effective RB like Kareem Hunt would be a shrewd/savvy move on the Cowboys part.
Like I mentioned earlier, Hunt is looking at least a six-game suspension and could quite possibly end up being for an entire season. That means he’s not going to cost a lot when/if he’s able to return to the NFL and is still young enough to make any contract he signs pay off. Sounds like a win-win for a team who is willing to bring him aboard.
About the time Hunt is able to return to the league just so happens kind of coincides with when the Cowboys have to make a decision about Elliott’s long-term future with the organization. This is a no-brainer from a business standpoint, but we all know that there are other factors involved here. But again, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is something that hasn’t crossed the mind of Jerry Jones.
Seeing How the NFL and Roger Goodell Handle Things
I personally believe that this is the reason why Jerry Jones is going to keep a close eye on the Kareem Hunt case, although the other two reasons certainly make sense. I just think he still hasn’t put the entire Ezekiel Elliott suspension drama behind him and really wants to see how Roger Goodell and the NFL handles things this time around.
We all know that Zeke’s suspension was based on nothing more than hearsay. The NFL’s lead investigator even recommended he shouldn’t be suspended and that was after interviewing the accuser six times, something that hasn’t happened once in Hunt’s case. The entire investigation was poorly handled and drawn out, which made the verdict that much more hard to swallow.
I think Jerry Jones has kind of been waiting for another chance to voice his displeasure with the NFL’s ability to investigate and punish players of wrongdoing on a consistent basis. This could be the exact kind of opportunity he’s been waiting for and you can bet that he won’t shy away from voicing his opinions on the matter. In fact, I’m a little surprised he hasn’t done so already.
