Dallas Cowboys along with the NFL have supported many causes in their history. For almost 10 years the NFL focused on breast cancer, and this year they expanded their efforts to tackle multiple types of cancer with the Crucial Catch campaign. This week’s games include the launch of the MyCauseMyCleats campaign where players express a cause that’s close to their hearts on their cleats. It’s so great to see football organizations use their platform for the greater good. The Cowboys also do their part in supporting causes that are important to them. At the Dallas Cowboys annual Thanksgiving games the famous Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign kicks off.
Can you imagine negotiating your next pay increase or contract negotiation in the news media? And then feel like your boss insulted you in front of millions of people? All this in the end was for a good cause as it helped support The Salvation Army.
Ezekiel Elliott (the Dallas Cowboys running back) was in an offseason dispute over his contract and withheld from showing up at the beginning of the season until he got a new contract that he thought he deserved – and instead trained away from the team in Mexico. Jerry Jones (the owner of the Cowboys) was asked during an interview how the negotiations with Elliott were going. Jones responded in a joke “Zeke who?”, while smiling. Elliott and his representatives weren’t happy about Jones’ response. Eventually right before the start of the NFL season the Cowboys agreed on a new contract making Elliot the highest paid player at his position in the NFL. At the news conference to announce the new contract both Elliott and Jones held up a t-shirt that said “Zeke Who?”
The T-shirts were sold with all proceeds going to The Salvation Army. At this year’s Thanksgiving game the Dallas Cowboys donated $150,000 from the sold T-shirts and Elliott added another $100,000 donation from his new contract to The Salvation Army. Elliott is no stranger to The Salvation Army as in 2016 he jumped into the Red Kettle after scoring a touchdown which created a lot of publicity for The Salvation Army.
With an organization as large as the NFL and a team as popular as the Dallas Cowboys it’s important that they both use their popularity for a greater good. There are millions of fans that tune in every week to watch an NFL game so the league has a responsibility to set a good example and do what is right. That is why it’s inspiring to see the NFL and the Dallas Cowboys support these important causes, and use their platform to help spread the message to millions of fans.
Photo credits:
http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/62332742/
https://www.dallascowboys.com/photos/mycausemycleats-2019#e8ac87b9-c036-474d-b26e-65a09c21f673
https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/how-zeke-watch-wrapped-up-with-a-big-laugh
https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nfl/dallas-cowboys/article237766044.html
https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nfl/dallas-cowboys/article220936535.html
CBSDFW.com
My Football 2 Cents 