INDIANAPOLIS - The Cowboys are not ignoring what is going on with the XFL and the Alliance of American Football.

As executive vice president Stephen Jones pointed out this week, several former Cowboys are on AAF rosters. Some of the notable names include tight end Gavin Escobar, kicker Nick Folk, defensive end Damontre Moore and cornerback Sterling Moore.

"You always pay attention," Jones said. "I know [vice president of player personnel Will McClay] is watching it closely in terms of, are there players there that could help us out at some point? Hats off to them, they're doing a great job."

The AAF is entering its fourth week of play. The newly reformed XFL will begin playing in February 2020, and Dallas has one of the eight franchises.

Last month, former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops was introduced as the head coach of the Dallas franchise.

"He's a great coach," Jones said. "His record speaks for itself. His accomplishments at OU, and certainly I think brings a ton of credibility to the franchise."

Stoops' team -- no nickname has been announced -- will play its home games at Globe Life Park in Arlington.

"Oh I think it's really important for any young player to find an environment where he can grow and develop," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. "We try to do that with 90-man rosters and with practice squads and preseason games, but you can't keep everybody. So some of these new upstart leagues give players and coaches and other people an opportunity to grow and to develop.

"There are so many great stories throughout the history of the NFL when someone came up through NFL Europe and won a Super Bowl and all of that. I think those are really positive things for the game of football and for those individual players."

Twitter: @jonmachota