Dirk enjoyed his DFW Airport greeting - until he realized it was for Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott

Ezekiel Elliott was the reason reporters rushed to DFW Airport on Tuesday afternoon when we learned that the Dallas Cowboys holdout star was arriving back in town. But hey, Dirk Nowitzki was at the airport, too.

#EzekielElliott is 'ready' and 'close': 4 facts as #Cowboys contracts talks likely near end https://t.co/khrOW0d4Br pic.twitter.com/X104kx9YgY
— fishsports ✭ (@fishsports) September 4, 2019

Zeke was asked “Are you ready?” by reporters after the running back landed at DFW Airport on Tuesday.

“I’ve been ready,” Zeke answered.

Meanwhile, Elliott agent Rocky Arceneaux was also fielding questions upon Zeke's arrival from Cabo.

Is he ready to sign? Is he close to signing?

"I think Zeke showed his commitment by coming back to Dallas,” the agent said. “We didn't come here not to do a deal. So I think he's committed. Both sides are."

And speaking of "committed'' ... who is more committed to DFW than Dirk Nowitzki, the Dallas Mavericks icon who, now that he is retired, is traveling the world as a basketball ambassador (and because he and his wife Jessica and their young family love to travel the world!).

Came home from China to all these cameras at the airport. I thought to myself: “ Man. I still got it!!” Turns out they were all there for zeke....
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) September 3, 2019

Dirk, probably half-joking - for in his 21 seasons in Dallas has always, always been half-joking -- tweeted that he was very flattered that the media was at the airport to greet him upon his return from China.

😭😭 https://t.co/JZGHs2SZcM
— Ezekiel Elliott (@EzekielElliott) September 4, 2019

Oops. Two ships passing in the night, really, though Elliott acknowledged the comedy of it all.

The Cowboys are a Super Bowl contender if they get arguably their best player under contract in negotiations that are ongoing tonight in DFW with Zeke's people and COO Stephen Jones’ “lieutenants” as we approach Stephen’s “Midnight Hour.”

Hopefully, Ezekiel Elliott will be signed and playing Sunday against the visiting Giants at AT&T Stadium. And you know what? Dirk, being the DFW ambassador that he is, will probably be there, too.