The Cowboys’ deal with Ezekiel Elliott turns sour for him


About 16 months ago, when Dellis Cowboys owner Jerry Jones stepped in front of a CNBC camera after committing to the richest running back deal in NFL history, he sounded like a man selling himself – perhaps more than anyone else – on a noble millionaire deal. Was to be accompanied.

Jones talked about how Elliott “worked” and “used his skills” to capture his market. He waxed about Elliott’s “big heart” and how Amit Smith proved that the NFL in the running back. Thin reasoning about what a long career can be. And in a moment that paused the reality of the moment, Jones briefly acknowledged what many were thinking that day.

“When you talk about that kind of money, we all get paid more,” Jones said.

At the time, Jones probably didn’t realize how appropriate he was. With less than two seasons in 2021 and the deal starting, the reality is as tight as Elliott’s performance. Two speed-fixing deals that helped move Elliott’s salary into orbit have turned out to be catastrophic (see: T. D. Gurley’s deal with the Los Angeles Rams and David Johnson’s Arizona Cardinals) Between the league’s best running backs, thrashed by trends. Zuki begins to move.

The NFL against the Arlington, Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, September 20, 2020 in Texas.  Ezekiel Elliott (21) stands on the field during the Dallas Cowboys warmups before the football game.  (AP Photo / Michael Einsworth)
With two games left in the regular season, Ezekiel Elliott is 525 yards shorter to match his 2019 running output of 1,535 yards. (AP Photo / Michael Einsworth)

Ezekiel Elliott’s salary now looks like an eye-opener

Is there still room for a physical bell-cow runner who carries most and doesn’t take a heavy factor into the passing sport? Yes. But his name is Derrick Henry and he looks like a unicorn, something Illlut was supposed to be at this stage of his career. All other commerce with the same skills is a divisive character whose physical nature is pronounced by the running mate. As for the rest of the league’s special rushers, who dominate touch at backfield, the New Orleans Saints’ Alvin Camara, the Minnesota Vikings’ Dalvin Cook ‘(and when healthy) play significant roles in passing offenses. ), Christian McFarlane of the Carolina Panthers and players like the New York Giants ‘Swaken Barclay’.

Throughout this collection one guy who looks most like Henry in Elliott’s style, and is also given the lowest return in the group, except for Barclays who are still on his rookie deal. It is also worth noting that Elliott secured more practical commitments when signing his expansion: some કેટલાક 50 million, which is 12 12 million more than what the Panthers gave to McCaffrey.

All of this is due to some ugly math considering that Elliott is struggling with his health again and will not be able to get within the league’s top 10 racers that come in Week 16.

Here are a few points to keep in mind: Elliott is definitely not right for his deal right now; That could be a big act of Dallas ’offensive line, which was previously considered; And with the Cowboys either having pay-cap issues in the near future or skating on the verge of being fully involved in the rebuilding, running after anyone with a high price is a big problem that one hopes will move forward in 2021.

That’s not to say Dallas won’t be able to sign Elliott in 2021, managing a capable 13.7 million on the cap. That Is To say that the paycheck would look like a beach whale, if it would repeat the 2020 performance that put it under a sharp microscope. As Jerry said back when the deer were signed, Elliott is being paid more. But he is infiltrating the Rams area of ​​Gurley, who eventually decided to come in the “series”.Paid by excess

Tony Pollard is fining behind a suspicious offensive line

As fast as Jones’s loyalty runs, he will be tested if the banged-up and effective Elliott we see in 2020 is not the best but the exceptional Elliott flows in 2021, especially if the Dallas barrel continues to look down. The astronomical expansion for quarterback Dak Prescott and several other financial strains that will come with the recovery of the team’s defense (which now seems inevitable).

Elliott has not been helped by backup Tony Pollard, who has been running behind the same offensive lines, but has been more productive with his touch over the past two seasons – despite the limited load, which could come down a bit in Pollard’s effectiveness. Her touch increased. But at some point, it’s undeniable that Pollard feels he’s running harder, hitting his chances faster and slipping into a more versatile role in passing offense.

None of that Jones had in mind for the late summer of 2019. Instead, he smiled and gritted his teeth at California, while joking about making Elliott’s lettuce fat. All blaster justified because the future looks so secure. The offense had its small building blocks and an extension with Prescott seemed inevitable (and would be cheaper than what happened). The defense had talent and depth. With a strong run and a playoff win, out of the 2018 season, the coaching staff was not quite written.

Now? That big deal of precision has fallen apart. And no one is sure what will happen from here. Perhaps the defensive coaching staff will be fired and it will fit in with teachers who make a planned sense with talent. Maybe Prescott is healthy and back to tears. Perhaps head coach Mike McCarthy’s resurrection proved that his complete lack of willingness to criticize ownership is well established.

And perhaps Ezekiel Elliott Cowboy hoped he was signing – an impressive load-carrying guy in Derrick Henry’s mold – finally coming true. Meanwhile, uncertainty is growing, and the weight of questions about Elliott will be weighed down by the weight of the contract on which he is not living.

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