PFT: Should Zeke hold out for a new deal?

[mattjames2010]

Zeke is a work horse and built like a tank. Wear and tear won't be as much of a problem with him like other backs.

I don't fear extending his contract.

It impacts all of them and he already had an ankle/knee problem last season. We don't have the next Smith.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Actually salaries appear to be going down for a RB. Since that stupid deal for Gurley.

Of ANY of the Cowboys Zeke is ONE guy you definitely do NOT sign now. He has two years of cheap money left on his deal and then he is 100% a candidate for using the franchise tag as RB salaries are generally cheaper. By the end of his 5th or 6th year he will be toast anyway so will be no need to sign him to a 2nd big contract.

Simply cannot sign RB 's to huge contracts in THIS offense. Way too many high priced guys along the line and in other areas on the offense. Need to go with RB by committee.

So run the hell out of him as long as we can on "cheap money" and let him walk? I don't like this at all......

Remember 2015.......tried this. In fact, it was soo bad, they tried in vain to bring Murray before the 2016 draft.

 

[OmerV]

We should never give Zeke big money. Ride him for his rookie contract then cut him loose and draft the next one. As good as he is, he won't be worth having in 3 years. It's a position that is never worth a big expense.

Admittedly there can be risk, but if what you say were correct and no RB is ever still good enough to justify a new contract after his rookie contract, no RB would ever make the HOF.

 

[Verdict]

I believe if you’re the Cowboys and you want Zeke still on this team 3 years from now, the cheapest and most reasonable time to extend him is right now.

Give him a 4 year deal today, he’s 28 at the end of his contract and likely past his prime.

If you’d stretch this out, you’re either giving him a contract into his 30s or you’re going to pay nearly as much when you factor in the fifth year option and a probable franchise tag.

If you plan on extending him, do it NOW. Otherwise ride him into the ground and move on.

 

[Tussinman]

Zeke is a work horse and built like a tank. Wear and tear won't be as much of a problem with him like other backs.

I don't fear extending his contract.

If he is problem free this season then I wouldn't mess around with 5th or franchise tag (he won't take either regardless) since those two things could be the majority of the guaranteed portion of a 4 year deal.

4 year deal next off-season and your only guaranteeing him at age 25 and 26 with the option to keep him around at 27 and 28 if he's still good (not to mention the last two years of the deal could be structured to be a lower cap hit)

 

[Hawkeye0202]

That’s true
And with Zeke to me it’s now or never
But a player thinking of holding out on a 5th year option or even franchise tag to me is wrong
I get players, especially RB wanting paid
But this is the system they agreed to
If I was players I would look at next CBA and limit the tag to just one year. But I’m big on doing what I agreed to even in cases I wish I had never agreed to it

It's his only leverage .....look what did to DeMarco Murray 2014. Ran him to the ground on his contract year. He not only stood tall staying healthy but lead the league in rushing and targets but guess what happened when time to talk contract. This is why I'm 100% convinced Zeke is sending a message to Stephen, this will not happen to me. Again I can see him playing it cool this season but it would surprise me at all if start miss offseason programs and training 2020 if they ARE IN SERIOUS NEGOTIATION and I personally don't blame him.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

If you plan on extending him, do it NOW. Otherwise ride him into the ground and move on.

Demarco Murray!

 

[Mr_437]

It's in the Cowboys best interest to have their best offensive n defensive players signed up.
I reckon, Zeke's agent is a smart guy and won't let his client get into the franchise tag fiasco.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

It's in the Cowboys best interest to have their best offensive n defensive players signed up.
I reckon, Zeke's agent is a smart guy and won't let his client get into the franchise tag fiasco.

Obviously, if it gets to that, Zeke will have to play at least a part of the year ( remember though this would come after current year and 2020 5th year option) so we're talking 2021 season. The tone coming from the Star suggests he'll be extended waay before then.

 

[Tussinman]

But a player thinking of holding out on a 5th year option or even franchise tag to me is wrong

Depends on the player. Look at Zack Martin. His rookie deal he went 4x all-pro and held out because they tried to do the 5th year option.

Martin was 100% right to hold out. He arguably had 1/2 of a hall of fame career on his rookie deal, why the hell would he basically play on a "prove it deal" ?

Franchise tags and 5th year option are when there's doubt or concern so more time is needed to make assessment of a long term deal (aka byron jones and tank having one good season, in tanks case also having injury issues).

Zeke plays light out next year and there's absolutely zero chance he would ever consider playing on a 5th year, him doing so would be wrong

 

[Verdict]

Demarco Murray!

It should probably be one way or the other. I would probably extend him now for 3 more years.

 

[Whirlwin]

With all the headaches that surrounded Ezekiel Elliott. He should play the season and shut his mouth

 

[Whirlwin]

He's more of the offense than Dak is by far. It's a matter of principle to extend Zeke if you're going to extend Dak. Every coach, d coordinator, o coordinator and sports caster knows that Zeke is the offense. That's just disrespect.

I don't think either one is better than the other. I want to see more balance. They're both winners

 

[ESisback]

I believe if you’re the Cowboys and you want Zeke still on this team 3 years from now, the cheapest and most reasonable time to extend him is right now.

Give him a 4 year deal today, he’s 28 at the end of his contract and likely past his prime.

If you’d stretch this out, you’re either giving him a contract into his 30s or you’re going to pay nearly as much when you factor in the fifth year option and a probable franchise tag.

Whatever they offer him now won’t be enough, and like most players these days, he’ll pout. That’ll cause distraction, take his edge away, and dampen his effectiveness. Wait 2 years, and he’ll feel “disrespected”, then they’ll give too much. That’ll put us back in cap hell, and the last couple of years he’ll be injured and/or past his prime.

Play him this year and tag him for 2020. By September 2021, he’ll have seen his better days. IMO.

 

[Whirlwin]

He's more of the offense than Dak is by far. It's a matter of principle to extend Zeke if you're going to extend Dak. Every coach, d coordinator, o coordinator and sports caster knows that Zeke is the offense. That's just disrespect.

The only reason why he's more of the offense was because the play-calling was more apt to a running game Smash Mouth football.

 

[cowboyec]

no...he shouldn't.

Elijah Holyfield,RB-Georgia
Trayvon Williams,Texas A&M
Derrell Henderson,Memphis

 

[Hardline]

It impacts all of them and he already had an ankle/knee problem last season. We don't have the next Smith.

And yet he produced at a high level
Zeke is as durable as they come.
He most likely will be performing at this level in eight years from now.

 

[Whirlwin]

And yet he produced at a high level
Zeke is as durable as they come.
He most likely will be performing at this level in eight years from now.

How many plays on third down did Elliot take himself out of the game. I believe you should have stayed in at least as a decoy. But I blame that for a lesson on the coaching staff. .should have been more balanced throughout the season but they didn't want to leave this young defense. On the field too long.

 

[Whirlwin]

Zeke is a work horse and built like a tank. Wear and tear won't be as much of a problem with him like other backs.

I don't fear extending his contract.

Do you know how many times he took himself out of the game on third down

 

[Mobinvans]

I dont even care anymore...I hope everyone holds out and this team falls apart so Jerry is forced to get a real GM and coach