They didn't win the Super Bowl, but the Dallas Cowboys sure moved merchandise the past year.
Cowboys players went Nos. 1, 2 and 4 on the NFL Players Association's Top 50 players sales list for 2016-2017.
Running back Ezekiel Elliot became the first rookie to top the list, with Dak Prescott following him at No. 2 and receiver Dez Bryant coming in at No. 4.
"It's pretty humbling," Elliott told the PA's official website. "When you're a rookie, you're just looking to put your head down, help the team, and learn the ropes. To accomplish this level of success off the field shows just how passionate football fans are in Dallas, Ohio, my home state of Missouri and all around the world. And to be up there with Dak and Dez, alongside great players like Tom Brady and Odell Beckham, is very special to me."
The list is based on total sales of officially licensed NFL player merchandise -- including jerseys, bobbleheads, figurines, Fatheads, etc. -- over a period from March 1, 2016 through Feb. 28, 2017. (Given that Zeke and Dak weren't drafted until April 28, 2016, the rest of the league had almost a two-month head start and still came up short of the rookies' sales.)
Per the NFLPA, licensees generated retail sales exceeding $1.6 billion during the year.
Some other observations about the list:
- While Zeke led the overall list, Dak was first in jersey sales. Elliott made his hay with other products, including leading the NFL in figurine sales -- with more than 10,000 sold. It's good to know people still buy figurines. (Note: There was no word on whether these figurines were actually of Elliott shoveling cereal into his mouth.)
- Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz landed No. 7 overall, ahead of the likes of Aaron Rodgers (No. 8), Rob Gronkowski (No. 9) and Cam Newton (No. 10). Better still was that Wentz moved the most bobbleheads, per the NFLPA. Every Philly home needs a Wentz bobblehead. It should be a city ordinance.
- Positional breakdown: 19 QBs, 17 WRs, nine defensive players, three running backs and two tight ends (Gronk and Jason Witten, of course). It's impressive Witten can still move merch.
- J.J. Watt was the highest defensive player on the list, coming in at No. 13, despite playing just three games. Who wants to bet females between the ages of 14-41 spent the most money on Watt merchandise? Can we get this breakdown, NFLPA?
- Tony Romo only played briefly in one regular-season game, but the now-retired quarterback landed 15th on the list, just ahead of Raiders stars Derek Carr and Khalil Mack. The power of THE Star.
- I'm guessing when the Los Angeles Rams traded the farm for Jared Goff, they didn't expect him to sell less merchandise than Kirk Cousins. Goff landed 40th on the list while the Redskins QB came in 39th.
- You know who else sold more stuff than Goff? Eight-year San Francisco 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman, who came in at No. 36. Good for the veteran who missed 12 games for staying more relevant than the No. 1 overall pick in 2016.
- Also good for Teddy Bridgewater, who landed at No. 35. After a horrific knee injury that could end his career as a Viking, at least plenty of Minnesota fans will have something by which to remember the QB.
- One final note on Brady: The Pats QB was tops in player-identified kids tees and jerseys. Every baby needs a Tom Brady jersey. Every. Baby.
