NFL

Jerry Jones, 2016 NFL Executive of the Year?

Yeah, I'm 10 games away from this statement blowing up in my face, but Dallas Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones could win the Pro Football Writers of America NFL Executive of the Year for the second time in three seasons.

After going 5-1 and leading the NFC East, Jones has to be on the ballot along with Minnesota Vikings GM Rick Spielman and Philadelphia Eagles GM Howie Roseman as the top executive in the league.

Jones' club was 4-12 last year. Then, on draft day he defied many draft gurus by taking Ezekiel Elliott at fourth overall. The new-age thinking is "you can find a back in later rounds" or "you don't draft a running back that high."

The Cowboys saw how they went 12-4 two years ago with DeMarco Murray having an excellent season leading the NFL in rushing. Murray helped the Cowboys control the time of possession in games and allowed the Cowboys' defense to outperform expectations. Elliott currently leads the NFL in rushing, as the Cowboys are duplicating their 2014 success.

That 2014 club also started the season 5-1.

The club drafted Dak Prescott in the fourth round and he's gone from being the club's third-string quarterback to the starter who may end up making Tony Romo his backup. Jones openly regretted not trading up for Paxton Lynch in the first round of the draft. He refused to add more to his draft day trade deal than Denver did, so Jones ended up with Prescott after Romo and Kellen Moore suffered injuries, and the rookie has won five straight games and has the Cowboys in first place. Lynch is 0-1 in his only NFL start for Denver.

The Cowboys' defense has yet to allow a 100-yard rusher or 100-yard wide receiver through six games. The list of players the defense has gone up against so far includes A.J. Green, Odell Beckham Jr., Alshon Jeffery, Jordy Nelson, Desean Jackson, Eddie Lacy, Jeremy Hill, Jordan Howard and Carlos Hyde.

There are 10 games left in the Cowboys season so everything I'm writing could change, but as for right now, you have to say Jerry Jones is the front runner to win the NFL Executive of the Year…again.

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