During Sunday night’s NFL game between the Cowboys and Buccaneers, Dallas rookie RB Ezekiel Elliott celebrated a touchdown run by “donating” himself into a giant red Salvation Army kettle in the end zone. Check it out:
Nothing like a Zeke being dropped into one of our kettles! @EzekielElliott @dallascowboys https://t.co/8DgRVvk0Xn https://t.co/oXMfsj8RnI
— Salvation Army USA (@SalvationArmyUS) December 19, 2016
Trying to hide from Monday like… @EzekielElliott #TBvsDAL pic.twitter.com/Kft7LIZEu8
— Gerilyn Manago (@GManago) December 19, 2016
Zeke, doing the most good! #TBvsDAL pic.twitter.com/NRqSJXaCxb
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) December 19, 2016
Ezekiel Elliott gives his donation to Salvation Army this Christmas… Himself!#OnlyInTheNFL #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/uajpFE82Ut
— NFL UK (@NFLUK) December 19, 2016
This act of charity to bring attention to the Salvation Army on national television earned Elliott at 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct and potentially a fine from the NFL:
https://twitter.com/logandobson/status/810668781039185920
Elliott appeared at a Salvation Army Thanksgiving even a few weeks ago:
Salvation Army bucket jump doesn't come out of nowhere. Team & Elliott (far right with Dak) were at a Salvation Army last month pic.twitter.com/GEpT8OCKPO
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) December 19, 2016
And the star rookie said after the game that whatever fine he gets from the NFL he’ll match with a donation to the Salvation Army:
Added value: @EzekielElliott says whatever @NFL fines him for his celebration, he'll match with donation to Salvation Army. #ClassyGesture.
— Jarrett Bell (@JarrettBell) December 19, 2016
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Even better, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones want the NFL to fine him so he can publicize the Salvation Army even more. Jones vowed to take whatever fine he gets over this all the way to the Supreme Court:
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is ready to go to the Supreme Court to defend Ezekiel Elliott and the Salvation Army https://t.co/fkLpX4ifNq
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) December 19, 2016
Watch: @EzekielElliott, Jerry Jones on that TD & leap into the @SalvationArmyUS red kettle https://t.co/2Udqc59vWm @NBCDFW #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/NYf8fzHs2I
— Ben Russell (@BenRussellNBC5) December 19, 2016
The biggest beneficiary of all this, of course, is the Salvation Army which used its time in the spotlight to raise funds:
Zeke's jump into the Salvation Army bucket was worth $200K in TV ad exposure to the brand, says @ApexMGAnalytics pic.twitter.com/iXOjPp3UNZ
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) December 19, 2016
Zeke made an important contribution for the @dallascowboys tonight. Can you contribute to the millions in need? https://t.co/zwJrWxPYLj pic.twitter.com/12zBHxczIz
— Salvation Army USA (@SalvationArmyUS) December 19, 2016
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