Yesterday I mentioned how surfing Cowboys’ Twitter brings up some interesting tidbits. Mostly though, its much ado about nothing.
Carson Wentz coming to the Cowboys does not have a high probability of happening. Ezekiel Elliott returning to the team is only slightly more likely. Even despite a video that set Twitter alight yesterday.
The video shows Elliott working out, carrying a football while running an obstacle course. I admit, he looks pretty good. Then I looked closer.
Fact Or Fiction?
The video appears to have been shot and edited in such a way to make it look likes he’s running faster than he actually is.
If the game of football was played dodging inanimate objects Elliott would be the MVP. But it isn’t.
Elliott dodged stationary trash cans like a champ. But that tells us nothing about how he’d dodge NFL lineman and linebackers.
Those guys aren’t stationary. Unlike the trash cans, they move fast and hit hard.
So color this viewer unimpressed by the video. The Elliott that earned a number four overall pick in 2016 isn’t in this video.
We’ve mentioned before that Elliott would have to accept a huge pay cut to play anywhere this year. Even his former running backs coach said as much.
Videos like this do little to convince general managers shopping for a running back in free agency that Elliott is back to his 2016-2019 form.
Workout Videos Don’t Pad The Resume
But it is a recent trend we’ve seen with other NFL players looking to get back into the league. For the most part, it is clear their time has come and gone.
Dez Bryant spent a few years posting similar videos. He’d be running routes and catching passes.
Alone. No coverage. No one hitting him off the line.
And it proves nothing. I’m pushing 60 and about 30 pounds over my playing weight.
I could go out and do one of those videos and look about as good. But there’s no way I’d be able to play a single down of NFL football.
No, Colin, Really. It’s You
Then there’s Colin Kaepernick. He hates the “slave-owning” NFL so much he’s constantly posting videos of him working out.
He’s throwing deep passes. Hitting receivers on routes. Moving around easily and throwing on the run.
But again, under no pressure. Not avoiding a full-out blitz or worrying about the defensive coverage.
You or I could post a similar video and look about as good doing those things too.
And again, none of us would be considered for a second by any general manager worth his salt. And rightfully so.
Gameday Tape Matters
No matter how many of these videos are posted, no matter how well they are shot and edited, there’s only one tape that matters.
It’s the tape showing a player’s last season of work. Elliott’s 2022 tape showed an old running back. His legs are used up.
He’ll turn 28 next month. He needs to take this year completely off and let those legs heal and recharge.
When the 2024 season kicks off he can try to land a spot on a roster as a back-up. He might be able to be part of a running back by committee effort.
That’s his best path back to the NFL right now. But his days as an RB1 are long gone.
For Dez Bryant, who turns 35 in November, his path no longer exists. He was a great player in his time. He needs to let that go now.
As for Kaepernick, who turns 36 in November, he burned down his path seven years ago. He just needs to go away.
The only videos we should be seeing of any of them are their highlight reels. That’s the only way we should be reminded of them.