Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard formed to create one of the NFL’s best two-headed rushing attacks this season.
Despite Zeke being named the starter in all but one game that he played, everyone watching the Cowboys knew that Pollard was the premier back. He was arguably the best playmaker on the offense.
Pollard’s speed, agility, and explosiveness saw him in the endzone more times this season than in his previous three years combined.
And as a result of his emergence, Ezekiel Elliott was demoted to the bruiser back. Being called upon in short down and distance situations to do the dirty work.
As a result, Zeke was at the lowest statistical point in his career.
For the first time, Elliott failed to surpass 1,000 total scrimmage yards. He also had a career-low of 3.8 yards per carry. His total number of receptions and receiving yards were also career worsts.
This is only the latest downward trend of Ezekiel Elliott since he became the highest-paid running back before the 2019 season.
Since signing his 6-year $90 Million extension, Zeke has failed to improve on his career highs from 2016 and 2018.
He is set to make $10.9 Million next year with a cap hit of over $16 Million. It would make him the second-largest cap hit for a running back. I don’t think there is anyone out there arguing that Zeke is worthy of those numbers.
The Cowboys could limit their cap hit by releasing Zeke with a post-June 1st designation.
Reports suggest that Elliott would be open to a pay cut to remain in Dallas next season. However, the pay cut would have to be substantial enough to give the Cowboys more cap space than they would if they released him.
This would take Zeke’s 2023 salary down to $6 Million. But the Cowboys might feel the need to cut ties with Zeke regardless.
When Tony Pollard went down with an injury in the 49ers playoff game, it felt like Zeke was given a final opportunity to prove his worth.
However, he now lacks the explosiveness and burst needed to make plays. He carried the ball 10 times for only 26 yards in an underwhelming display. It was an evident display of the unfortunate decline of running backs who play the game as he does go through.
It may be time for Ezekiel Elliott to be sent to pasture.
The Dallas Cowboys are going through a period of a mass coaching change. Kellen Moore and running backs coach Skip Peete have both been let go by the Cowboys.
Zeke and Peete were very close and had a strong relationship. So Peete’s departure only adds to the possibility of Elliotts’ impending release.
In the middle of the season, Jerry Jones claimed “we go as Zeke goes” after Pollard had 14 carries for 131 yards against the Bears in October.
But the reality is this team no longer goes through Ezekiel Elliott.
In what could potentially be his last play for the Dallas Cowboys, Zeke lined up at center in the goofiest-looking play of the year. He snapped the ball to Dak Prescott before getting blown up by 49ers linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair…
A complete injustice to his seven-year service with the Dallas Cowboys.
Nice article. Zeke was great before that contract extension. Has been in a straight decline ever since. Thanks for the memories. Time to move on.
Agreed. Will be sad to see him go, but it’s time
I don’t see getting rid of him if he takes a pay cut, he’s very well liked there in locker room, and he don’t want to leave, maybe eventually he’ll be gone before long, but as long as he can be of some use to us, he ain’t gonna go nowhere
He will be holding back the opportunity to bring in a younger back and taking up a roster spot. Better to move on and go with a younger guy.
I love Zeke. But unless the pay cut takes him to vet min, we’d be best moving on
Well looks like he’ll be staying, Jerry and Stephen both said that they want to keep him through this next season
Yes it’s time for Elliott’s release. He’s more or less a liability than an asset at this stage of his career. That idiotic play call against the 49’ers on the final play was an embarrassment for the entire Cowboys Organization. Kellen Moore’s dumb ass should’ve been fired long before he actually was. I’m NOT SORRY HE’S GONE!!!! I think the Chargers will see him for what he really is and he won’t be there very long. The Cowboys MUST draft another running back to complement Pollard and Davis. Preferably a big back with 4.5 or 4.6 speed in the 40 yard dash.
I have mixed thoughts on EE. He was THE BEST RB in the league his first three years. He WAS awesome and he WAS the driving force behind the offense then, resulting in putting a lot of money in QB1’s pocket eventually. He is still one of my favorite players because of the effort and the 100% he gives on ever down. Does he still have a role on the team, maybe. Cowboys were eighth in rushing last year, so the combo of TP and EE were productive.
Front office will have to look at the money end of this also. They could possibly draft a better RB at a much cheaper outlay (and will TP come back the same?). If that’s the case and they let him go, as James commented, thanks for the memories, Zeke.
It definitely showed us that having a big bruising back can be very advantageous. But it’s hard to justify paying someone much more than vet min for just that role. Even if he is the QBs best friend. Regardless, will be very sad to see him go