We've seen it before with others how the Zeke drama will play out

[GimmeTheBall!]

1. Zeke holds out
2. The FO and the star will call each other daily
3. Zeke will avoid the training camp routine; he will avoid some light hits and avoid foot and knee injuries and avoids exersion.
4. Training camp folds
5. Zeke is offered a take it or leave it deal.
6. The fandom holds its breath as Zeke considers it (or is tagged)
7. Zeke, wanting the limelight, reappears in Dallas
8. Zeke gets, slowly, into shape.
9. Tony Pollard is drawing oooohs and ahhh's
10. Zeke enters the game in the 2nd game of the season.

 

[GenoT]

1. Zeke holds out
2. The FO and the star will call each other daily
3. Zeke will avoid the training camp routine; he will avoid some light hits and avoid foot and knee injuries and avoids exersion.
4. Training camp folds
5. Zeke is offered a take it or leave it deal.
6. The fandom holds its breath as Zeke considers it (or is tagged)
7. Zeke, wanting the limelight, reappears in Dallas
8. Zeke gets, slowly, into shape.
9. Tony Pollard is drawing oooohs and ahhh's
10. Zeke enters the game in the 2nd game of the season.

 

[Hadenough]

1. Zeke holds out
2. The FO and the star will call each other daily
3. Zeke will avoid the training camp routine; he will avoid some light hits and avoid foot and knee injuries and avoids exersion.
4. Training camp folds
5. Zeke is offered a take it or leave it deal.
6. The fandom holds its breath as Zeke considers it (or is tagged)
7. Zeke, wanting the limelight, reappears in Dallas
8. Zeke gets, slowly, into shape.
9. Tony Pollard is drawing oooohs and ahhh's
10. Zeke enters the game in the 2nd game of the season.

You forgot #11. Zeke pulls a hamstring.

 

[Diehardblues]

It won’t be good for the season but it might take sitting a couple games for more leverage. It could go the other way. That’s the risk you take.

I’m thinking we’ll miss him but you never know.

 

[aikemirv]

You forgot #11. Zeke pulls a hamstring.

Yep, par for the course

 

[Stash]

I fully expect this front office to make what should be their last deal their first deal. I expect that they will give in to Elliott's demands and overpay for a running back contract that they will ultimately regret. And then with whatever is left, they'll worry about trying to get the two deals they should have gotten done first finished.

If I'm them, I'm more than a bit pissed about this privately, no matter what I'm saying to the public.

This is the guy that you went to war with the Commissioner and the league for, and ended up paying a few million in the process. The guy under contract for TWO MORE SEASONS. And now, two weeks after narrowly avoiding another suspension to screw up your team's season, he's pulling this crap?

Yeah, let his agent get to work on a trade. Get someone else to put up with the nonsense, and pay a premium to do it.

 

[CowboysDrew]

Regarding #6 - How do you tag a player with two years left on his contract?

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

This is not how it played out with Emmitt (held out into the season until Dallas caved)

Or Le’Veon (held out the entire year)

Or Steven Jackson (held out until STL caved before the final preseason game)

Or Chris Johnson (held out all the way until September when Tennessee caved)

Or Clinton Portis (only threatened to hold out and that got him traded to a team that paid him)

Or Marshawn Lynch (held out until Seattle agreed to add more guaranteed money to his deal)

Or Jamal Charles (KC immediately caved before TC when he announced he wouldn’t show)

Not a lot of running backs have been in Zeke’s position. But most of them got exactly what they wanted.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

You forgot #11. Zeke pulls a hamstring.

 

[lockster]

I fully expect this front office to make what should be their last deal their first deal. I expect that they will give in to Elliott's demands and overpay for a running back contract that they will ultimately regret. And then with whatever is left, they'll worry about trying to get the two deals they should have gotten done first finished.

If I'm them, I'm more than a bit pissed about this privately, no matter what I'm saying to the public.

This is the guy that you went to war with the Commissioner and the league for, and ended up paying a few million in the process. The guy under contract for TWO MORE SEASONS. And now, two weeks after narrowly avoiding another suspension to screw up your team's season, he's pulling this crap?

Yeah, let his agent get to work on a trade. Get someone else to put up with the nonsense, and pay a premium to do it.

Yeah, we will always have problems with a guy like this, it will always be something. Don't pay big money to a guy you can't trust , just like Gregory. Trade him for big time draft picks, and let's move on. You can see, he has no loyalty whatsoever. He should be in camp while working with the cowboys.

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

Regarding #6 - How do you tag a player with two years left on his contract?

The answer is... you don't. Dang, did I just quote the Falcon from Civil War?

 

[HoosierCowboy]

Zeke will do something stupid in Cabo and get suspended. Problem solved.

 

[OmerV]

1. Zeke holds out
2. The FO and the star will call each other daily
3. Zeke will avoid the training camp routine; he will avoid some light hits and avoid foot and knee injuries and avoids exersion.
4. Training camp folds
5. Zeke is offered a take it or leave it deal.
6. The fandom holds its breath as Zeke considers it (or is tagged)
7. Zeke, wanting the limelight, reappears in Dallas
8. Zeke gets, slowly, into shape.
9. Tony Pollard is drawing oooohs and ahhh's
10. Zeke enters the game in the 2nd game of the season.

Much of this is very possible. Zeke won't get tagged though because he's still under contract.

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

Yeah, we will always have problems with a guy like this, it will always be something. Don't pay big money to a guy you can't trust , just like Gregory. Trade him for big time draft picks, and let's move on. You can see, he has no loyalty whatsoever. He should be in camp while working with the cowboys.

Zeke is holding out so he can be a Cowboy for six more years. Is that loyalty? Its actually a smart (and selfish) move with all of the contracts ending after this season.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I actually think that we could see the Cowboys stand pat on this one. I mean, not saying they will but I can see where they might. I mean, what happens if Zeke sits and the Cowboys roll with somebody else? We could see the Cowboys be successful with another player or players or, we could see the team go down in flames. I mean, either could happen but what is the motivation for the team to pay him top dollar? If the Cowboys can win without him, what happens to his leverage with the team? If the Cowboys go down in flames, they get another high pick and, more importantly, they probably gain leverage on both Zeke and Dak because now you are in a situation where the value that may, or many not exist for Dak, goes out the window. The Cowboys could save themselves millions going forward on both of those players.

I guess I'm not so sure the Cowboys will come to the table on this thing. I believe they will offer a contract but I'm not so sure they will "cave".

 

[TruBluSince1982]

I think they will set a number and stick to it. In other words, what they can afford to pay Zeke while retaining other key players.

If no bite, they start actively seeking trade opportunities.

 

[Hadenough]

HOPEFULLY he wont. But sometimes holding out of training camp does affect conditioning. Especially if Zeke is partying down in Cabo.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I actually think that we could see the Cowboys stand pat on this one. I mean, not saying they will but I can see where they might. I mean, what happens if Zeke sits and the Cowboys roll with somebody else? We could see the Cowboys be successful with another player or players or, we could see the team go down in flames. I mean, either could happen but what is the motivation for the team to pay him top dollar? If the Cowboys can win without him, what happens to his leverage with the team? If the Cowboys go down in flames, they get another high pick and, more importantly, they probably gain leverage on both Zeke and Dak because now you are in a situation where the value that may, or many not exist for Dak, goes out the window. The Cowboys could save themselves millions going forward on both of those players.

I guess I'm not so sure the Cowboys will come to the table on this thing. I believe they will offer a contract but I'm not so sure they will "cave".

 

[Vinnie2u]

You forgot #11. Zeke pulls a hamstring.

Agree... if he’s gonna sit out til then I hope the FO plays hard ball and lowers the offer. Zeke will look like looney by then.

 

[Diehardblues]

We must separate our emotions from the equation. It’s strictly business.

We either believe his talent is worth tolerating his behavior or not. And we either believe he increases our opportunity to win now or we don’t.

The rest is attempting to come to an agreement that makes both sides comfortable.