Dallas Cowboys seem to have done only one thing this NFL season: leaving fans with more questions than answers while pushing for consistency in the disbelief they leave fans with. The team’s offense doesn’t seem to click, while the defense has seen better days. The team is not even a foot near the championship and everyone seems to have their fingers pointed in one direction – Jerry Jones and his terrible decisions during the offseason. Enter former Cowboy, Troy Aikman.

Indeed, running back Derrick Henry’s shadow is not leaving Jerry Jones. NFL’s second-leading rusher last season did want to play for Dallas. The 2020 NFL Offensive Player of the Year had said that playing for the Cowboys would have been perfect because he lives in Dallas during the offseason. “I was like, man, if I’m not in Tennessee or I don’t get to go to Dallas, I’d love to be a Raven,” Henry said on the “Pivot” podcast in early April. But the Cowboys never expressed their interest in Henry who eventually landed with the Ravens.

Only Henry here had his comeback reply ready. During the Ravens’ Sept 22 victory over the Cowboys, Henry sprayed salt over the wounds, running for 151 yards, 2 TDs on 25 carries, adding another 23 yards on a reception. “I thought it’d been some type of reach out, some type of talks or whatever,” Henry said. “They never reached out, you know what I’m saying? … They weren’t really interested. It is what it is.” Looking at the wonders Henry has pulled with the Ravens, Aikman made a mission to let Jones know about what he let go.

So on Monday Night Football during the Ravens vs Chargers pregame, Aikman had a tough time ignoring what the Cowboys were missing out on. Troy’s comments gained the spotlight on X after beat writer Clarence Hill Jr tweeted, “Troy Aikman brings up again that Derrick Henry lives in Dallas and wanted to sign with the Cowboys.” And for certain, it wasn’t the first time!

During the Ravens’ Week-7 game against the Bucs, Aikman took a subtle jab at the Cowboys for not signing Henry. While he was all praises for the running back, he also remarked: “There’s gotta be a lot of teams out there that had opportunities to bring in Derrick Henry that are kind of kicking themselves for not doing it. But he has been an absolute perfect fit for this Ravens attack.” Surprisingly, during the game, ESPN broadcaster Joe Buck also chimed in.

“The offseason home for Derrick Henry is in Dallas, Texas,”  Buck mentioned, dropping hints on how the Cowboys missed out on such a big opportunity. However, Jerry Jones had his explanations ready.

Appearing on Shan & RJ on Audacy’s 105.3 The Fan, Jones had argued, “I don’t know if he’d be having that career year in our situation,” Jones continued. “And that’s really something you really do have to look at. Because if he had not had as many carries as our running backs have had, then he certainly probably wouldn’t have attained the level of impact that he’s having. And then he’s a real good complement to the type of offense that they run. We don’t run that type of offense at all.” Really?

What we can see is, Henry would have brought more balance to a one-dimensional offense. He also would have added an element that was missing last season with Tony Pollard. At 6-foot-3 and 247 pounds, Henry’s unusual size for a running back would have made it easier for Dallas to close out games on the ground. Also, he could have been a major weapon in red zone situations around the goal line. Jerry Jones had another reason to offer.

“Derrick Henry didn’t fit because, principally, of managing the (salary) cap … in anticipation of the players that we were going to sign weeks later on, (and) in anticipation of the players we’re going to be signing in the future,” Jones had said. But that is not standing either.

After proclaiming Dallas would be “all in” for the 2024 season, Jones has signed wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott to contract extensions that ultimately freed up $9.251 million and $10,516,867 of 2024 salary cap room, respectively. Baltimore’s 2024 cap number for Henry is $5.105 million, with a $7.79 million signing bonus prorated over the two contract years and a $1.21 million base salary. The same deal Henry got with the Ravens could have been done with a lower cap number. How?

former agent Joel Corry pointed out in this piece for CBS Sports that Henry’s salary cap number could have been as low as $2.768 million by adding so-called “dummy/voiding” years to his contract to prorate his signing bonus. The Cowboys used a similar tactic in renegotiating receiver Brandin Cooks’ contract when they acquired him from the Texans, Corry pointed out. For good reasons, all these arguments and counterarguments now mean nothing to the Cowboys fans, especially looking at Henry’s run with the Ravens.

King Henry’s Supremacy: Troy Aikman’s favorite is unstoppable in NFL 2024

When #22 moved to the Baltimore Ravens, it raised plenty of eyebrows. But he’s not letting the public opinions get the best of him. After the Ravens’ 28-25 win at the Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh passionately told his players, “The thing that was the key difference in the game — that made it all happen — was 151 yards rushing by King Henry,” before delivering the ball to Henry and hugging him. Ironically, that was their first win of the season!

From stiff-arming tacklers to motivating his offensive linemen, Henry produced one of his vintage performances in that game. From their run-heavy formations to the number of carries, the Ravens made it clear that Henry was the centerpiece of the game plan. “You’ve just got to get him lanes [to] just hold up and just let him do his thing. He showed off. He did what kings do — [he’s] Derrick Henry,” Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson said. The Ravens have long admired Henry and saw his physical style as a perfect fit for their hard-hitting mindset.

Currently, Henry is in the second position in the the NFL in rushing yards with 1,325 yards behind Eagles’ Saquon Barkley (1392 yards). It’s a number that speaks highly of his capabilities. In the 12 games he has played so far, Henry has managed multiple 100-yard games and averaged a jaw-dropping 6.0 yards per carry. Not only that, Henry also scored a massive 199 yards in his week 4 game against the Buffalo Bills.

Henry’s contributions to the team have secured them a spot at the top of the league. But we are not just talking numbers here. We are also highlighting his performance and demeanor in crucial games. The running back helped the Ravens secure a (41-31) win over the Buccaneers with 169 yards. This was their 5th consecutive victory in the season. Derrick Henry’s name will always come up when there is a mention of the best running backs in the league.

Dallas Cowboys, on the other hand, have been searching for consistency. They may have found it with Henry, but that’s a conversation better left in the past now. They are moving midway through the season with a 4-3 record and doubts all around. For now, the Cowboys are left to wonder what might have been if only they had taken a different decision.