Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has known to be long winded, verbose and sometimes hard to decipher. But when asked if the Cowboys were better now they were at the end of the 12-5 season, which concluded with a second consecutive loss to San Francisco 49ers in the playoffs,

The Cowboys never offered Ezekiel Elliott a pay cut to return but Jerry Jones won’t close the door on bringing him back.

It may be awhile before Ezekiel Elliott finds a new home. The former three-time Pro Bowl running back and two-time NFL rushing champ remains a free agent less than weeks after his release from the Dallas Cowboys.

Jerry Jones discussed the release of Ezekiel Elliott with a group of reporters at the NFL League Meetings. Jones said it was “principally because of the cap,’’ but added there was a belief the club “improved through scheme or another player.

Extreme optimism isn’t a foreign concept to Jerry Jones. He sells it every day. The difference now is fans are buying it. That’s a departure