Eventually, it got back to what the Cowboys need to do next week when they play Sept. 17 at Las Vegas<\/a>, but that seems so unimportant compared to what Jones was talking about Monday. <\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to understand why the focus was on the Cowboys\u2019 emotions after the death of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland.<\/a><\/p>\n Cowboys<\/p>\n By signing up, you agree to our\u00a0Terms of Service<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Privacy Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n In the first public interview by anyone in the Cowboys front office since Kneeland\u2019s death, Jones said all the right things from the heart<\/a> because, like everyone else in the franchise, he cares.<\/p>\n \u201cAnytime you get news like that, your heart just, obviously, it\u2019s like a hole going through it and you\u2019re just heartbroken, certainly hoping that wasn\u2019t the case,\u201d Jones said. \u201cI found out in the middle of the night. Woke up after finally getting a little bit of sleep, woke up and was hoping it was a dream but unfortunately it wasn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n Kneeland killed himself on Thursday and the reasons for it remain in the exploratory phases from a law enforcement, team and family perspective. <\/p>\n Kneeland\u2019s girlfriend told police in a 911 call that he suffered from mental illness. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound near the team facility in Frisco. <\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s an upsetting story of a man with a bright future. Just days before his death, the second-round pick from Western Michigan scored his first NFL touchdown<\/a> off a blocked punt. The next day, his uncle had texted him, congratulating him on the achievement. <\/p>\n Now he\u2019s gone. <\/p>\n \u201cThe biggest thing was his energy and the way he played the game,\u201d Jones said of Kneeland. \u201cHe had a big passion and love for the game. He played with a high motor. He loved to get after it. Certainly, that jumped off the tape when you watched Marshawn when we were scouting him. I mean, he just jumped off the tape, how he hustled, how he played the game, his passion for the game. And certainly, he was that way as a person and played that way for us, and we\u2019re just going to miss him so much.\u201d<\/p>\n Team officials said players plan on wearing a helmet decal to honor Kneeland\u2019s passing and for their next home game, Nov. 23 against the Eagles, a moment of silence along with a video tribute are just some of the things being planned. Kneeland\u2019s family is scheduled to attend the Eagles game. <\/p>\n The NFL had a moment of silence for Kneeland<\/a> at all its games this weekend. The Stars did the same for their game on Thursday against the Ducks.<\/a> <\/p>\n![\"Dallas](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2J4SLRAY2VCNBANKZI5XASEE7M.jpg\")
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