The stars of the Dallas Cowboys gathered on Wednesday night to raise money for the Salvation Army at the annual Reliant Energy Home Run Derby with punter Bryan Anger taking home the top prize. The former Cal standout hit 17 home runs, good for $21,200 raised for charity.
Altogether, the Cowboys players raised $104,900 for the Salvation Army, which was a record for the team. Overall, the event raked in $145,000.
Anger is entering the final year of his three-year contract with Dallas. He signed for three years, $9 million after stints with Houston, Tampa Bay and Jacksonville.
Anger had one of the best years of his career for Dallas in 2023. After averaging a franchise-record 44.6 net YPP and making the NFL’s All-Pro honors as a second-team selection in 2021, he earned All-Pro second-team honors once again in 2023, posting a 44.9 in net average. His other career achievements include the NFL’s punting yards leader in 2013 and a Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team section in 2012.
Over the course of his career, Anger has had 828 regular-season punts for 38,789 yards. He averages 46.8 yards per punt with 300 landing inside the 20-yard line and a career-long of 83 yards. With the Cowboys offense ranking No. 1 in scoring in 2023, he actually had the fewest punts of his career in 2023 with just 44.
The Home Run Derby marked the first official Cowboys team event that featured Ezekiel Elliott. The former first-rounder inked his new deal with Dallas on Tuesday and by Wednesday, he was back on the field – both at the Star and at the Derby.
Ezekiel Elliott back with Cowboys like he never left
Elliott spoke to reporters about his reunion with his former squad on Wednesday, expressing his ultimate goal for the team in 2024.
“I got unfinished business,” the 28-year-old running back said, adding, “I’m here to chase that ring… I think you guys all know what I’m going to give when I’m on the field.”
Beyond his ability on the football field, Dak Prescott believes the Elliott signing was a move to add more veteran leadership to what’s morphed into a younger roster these days.
“Yeah, super excited,” Prescott said. “Obviously, just knowing our history, my experience with him as a brother, but in this case, as a teammate, understanding what he brings to the team, the locker room alone, the culture he sets. A guy that does everything the right way, from the locker room to the field. With us having a young team, bringing guys in, people can follow him and watch him.”
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