Jerry Jones delivers emotional Cowboys goodbye to Ezekiel Elliott

The Cowboys are releasing running back Ezekiel Elliott and owner Jerry Jones his everyone in the feels with an emotional goodbye to the former star.

Even though it needed to happen, the Dallas Cowboys arriving at the decision to cut longtime running back Ezekiel Elliott on Wednesday is a tough one to swallow for everyone. Even with his shortcomings on the field in recent years, he’s been a warrior for the franchise, a beloved teammate, and his early years were electric as a performer as well.

But now he’s gone. Elliott has been designated as a post-June 1 cut to save north of $10 million against the salary cap and then he’ll be free to sign elsewhere, though he’ll be able to begin negotiating right away.

That doesn’t take the emotion out of the release, though. And that was never more evident than through the statement released by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on Wednesday.

“Zeke’s impact and influence is seared into the Cowboys franchise in a very special and indelible way,” Jones began as he gushed over what Elliott has meant to this team before iterating that the running back will always have a special place in the hearts of the franchise and fans. You can read the full statement below, via NFL Network’s Mike Garfolo.

Jerry Jones has emotional goodbye to Ezekiel Elliott: ‘He wore the Cowboys Star with pride and purpose’

Not a word that was said about Elliott has been untrue. The running back may have been maddening as he fought through injuries in recent years, but he continued to fight for the Cowboys and be a fighter for this team. And it’s even less surprising to hear that sentiment from Jones.

Jones obviously took Ezekiel Elliott with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 draft and was in his corner from the start. That never ceased as Jones continually reiterated throughout Zeke’s career how important the running back was to the success and the core of the team.

Now begins a new era, though, one that is clearly going to feel much different. Tony Pollard is back on the franchise tag and it’s likely Dallas signs another cheap running back or drafts one. In any case, though, the Cowboys clearly will miss Elliott, even if it was certainly time to move on.