WATCH: As Ezekiel Elliott agrees to $103M Cowboys deal, Jerry & Stephen Jones ring the Opening Bell

FRISCO - Five notes on the Ezekiel Elliott signing, highlighted by the fact that Dallas Cowboys bosses Jerry and Stephen Jones aren't physically here at The Star to take part in it.

1) I was told last night that Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones were not physically present for the closing session in the Ezekiel Elliott negotiations that have culminated in his new eight-year, $103 million deal.

What? Why? They're in New York ... ringing the Opening Bell on Wall Street.

ALERT: #Cowboys Jerry whereabouts? Ringing the Opening Bell on Wall Street! pic.twitter.com/3Fvvpgjybw
— fishsports ✭ (@fishsports) September 4, 2019

You've got to give it to the Joneses in this sense: They do it their way.

Meanwhile, I ring a familiar bell on the subject: Stephen's Lieutenants did the work here. In terms of cap management and now contract negotiations, they are outstanding at what they do.

2) I promise you the Cowboys cap guys created for themselves in this contract what I call 'escape hatches' - and what they call 'protection' - in future years. Dallas will NOT be 'stuck' paying a 32-year-old running back.

3) One conflict over the course of negotiations: The 30-Percent Rule. It was a major problem. Cowboys negotiators got it; the other side was, I think, slow to fully grasp its impact. Finally came an understanding.

4) As we've been reporting, the Cowboys training staff and coaching staff wants to make sure Zeke is truly ready to take on a full load. They will know more today at practice here at The Star. The owner would love for him to play all the snaps and star in a win over the Giants. But first things first.

5) That process began this morning at 7 a.m. when Zeke made the short trek from his home to the facility. The process will also include a press conference.

But the presser maybe will not happen until Thursday, allowing the Joneses to come back from New York to attend. Because ... whether it's building a Super Bowl contender or celebrating another business success on Wall Street ... the Joneses do it their way.