Cowboys should enlist 3-year plan with Ezekiel Elliott, let him walk

[Jake]

In case you're still wondering why Zeke is holding out this year, the article leads to the only way Zeke can change the scenario - holding out this year.

The Cowboys already have Elliott for this year and have exercised the fifth-year option on him for the 2020 season. Despite early offseason rumors, the star runner isn’t holding himself out of team activities this year...

You don't say?

It’s difficult to see Elliott dismissing a $9.1 million payday by sitting out the 2020 season.

Indeed.

At the end of the 2020 season, Elliott will be 25 years old and would be heading into free agency. However, the Cowboys should then use the franchise tag on Elliott and pay the cost of that tag.

Uh huh.

After the 2021 season, Elliott will be 26 years old and have six seasons under his belt. The Cowboys will surely have expended a ton of carries on Elliott’s legs and the time would be perfect to let him go in free agency.

Or Zeke could sit out 2019, by pass the $3.8 million salary, come back next year and get his accrued season for $9.1 million. You don't suppose he'd try that, do you?

https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/20...act-discussion-three-year-plan-franchise-tag/

 

[Future]

Ummm this plan is exactly why he's holding out.

A 3-year plan is dumb if the player isn't actually going to play.

 

[stilltheguru]

Ummm this plan is exactly why he's holding out.

A 3-year plan is dumb if the player isn't actually going to play.

These dudes are so simple minded. Like Zelda agents don’t know what Dallas wants to do. get your money Zeke!

 

[BigD5]

Sit out two years, losing about $12m in actual salary and $4m in signing bonus outright, plus whatever fines the team levies on him, only to end up as a RESTRICTED FA rather than a UFA?

Brilliant!

 

[Stash]

In case you're still wondering why Zeke is holding out this year, the article leads to the only way Zeke can change the scenario - holding out this year.

The Cowboys already have Elliott for this year and have exercised the fifth-year option on him for the 2020 season. Despite early offseason rumors, the star runner isn’t holding himself out of team activities this year...

You don't say?

It’s difficult to see Elliott dismissing a $9.1 million payday by sitting out the 2020 season.

Indeed.

At the end of the 2020 season, Elliott will be 25 years old and would be heading into free agency. However, the Cowboys should then use the franchise tag on Elliott and pay the cost of that tag.

Uh huh.

After the 2021 season, Elliott will be 26 years old and have six seasons under his belt. The Cowboys will surely have expended a ton of carries on Elliott’s legs and the time would be perfect to let him go in free agency.

Or Zeke could sit out 2019, by pass the $3.8 million salary, come back next year and get his accrued season for $9.1 million. You don't suppose he'd try that, do you?

https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/20...act-discussion-three-year-plan-franchise-tag/

He could certainly try. And then the Cowboys could move on and acquire other running backs. And then Elliott can worry about what, if any role he'll have to come back to in 2020, because he certainly won't get any contract from the Cowboys at that point.

 

[Future]

These dudes are so simple minded. Like Zelda agents don’t know what Dallas wants to do. get your money Zeke!

They representing Link? lol

 

[Dallasfann]

If I were the Cowboys I'd call Zeke today and say. We are gonna go forward with the season. We just want to inform you that we will be franchise tagging you for 3 seasons once your contract is up. We will see ya when we see ya. Bye.

 

[stilltheguru]

They representing Link? lol

I don’t know why that auto switched to that. I never discuss video games on my phone lol

 

[MarcusRock]

He could certainly try. And then the Cowboys could move on and acquire other running backs. And then Elliott can worry about what, if any role he'll have to come back to in 2020, because he certainly won't get any contract from the Cowboys at that point.

Despite what people "hope" for in this situation, a deal is going to get done. You don't roll into a season with rooks helping to protect your QB and without the man through whom your QB (and offense) has been mostly successful. For all the stuff about Zeke's agent leading him down the wrong path, it's actually perfect timing, was probably planned from the outset of his career, and will pay off in the end. What people "feel" about it is irrelevant.

 

[CATCH17]

Zeke is bluffing.

He's not going to sit out and lose that money. If he does it's a bad decision by him.

Dallas has all the leverage.

 

[Stash]

Despite what people "hope" for in this situation, a deal is going to get done. You don't roll into a season with rooks helping to protect your QB and without the man through whom your QB (and offense) has been mostly successful. For all the stuff about Zeke's agent leading him down the wrong path, it's actually perfect timing, was probably planned from the outset of his career, and will pay off in the end. What people "feel" about it is irrelevant.

Like what you "feel" about it also being "irrelevant"?


But for the record, I expect that a deal will ultimately get done as well. Both sides appear to really need one another and I think neither side has any other options.

Now, whether that's ultimately the best idea? That's another conversation.

 

[Jarv]

I wonder, from Dak's viewpoint. If he has to show a "prove it" year this year, for a contract next year...Would he rather do that with or without Zeke?

 

[beware_d-ware]

Intentionally screwing over players is how we got into this mess to start with. We chewed up Murray and spit him out, and it looked like good moneyball at the time, but we are only really seeing the costs of it 4 years later. Zeke's not going to let the same thing happen to him.

This is also why I'm fine with overpaying La'El and putting him at RT. If you back out on your agreement and screw over your miracle-from-God UDFA now, how willing do you think the next one will be to sign with you later.

 

[Proof]

Despite what people "hope" for in this situation, a deal is going to get done. You don't roll into a season with rooks helping to protect your QB and without the man through whom your QB (and offense) has been mostly successful. For all the stuff about Zeke's agent leading him down the wrong path, it's actually perfect timing, was probably planned from the outset of his career, and will pay off in the end. What people "feel" about it is irrelevant.

what did he hope or feel about in his post? he just laid out a version of how things could play out. your post sounds a bit more as if you have some insight as to whats really going on, or how you feel.

 

[408Cowboy]

They representing Link? lol

I thought that was Robin Williams?

I don’t know why that auto switched to that. I never discuss video games on my phone lol

Guess it's a good time to start.

 

[aikemirv]

Intentionally screwing over players is how we got into this mess to start with. We chewed up Murray and spit him out, and it looked like good moneyball at the time, but we are only really seeing the costs of it 4 years later. Zeke's not going to let the same thing happen to him.

This is also why I'm fine with overpaying La'El and putting him at RT. If you back out on your agreement and screw over your miracle-from-God UDFA now, how willing do you think the next one will be to sign with you later.

Thats re-writing a bit of history. Jerry already paid Lael for the draft screwup: https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/...ly-gets-huge-two-year-extension-from-cowboys/

and treated him better than anybody else would have!

Murray is not complaining, he took that used up Cowboys season all the way to the bank - it was a great windfall for him!

 

[erod]

They need to give him a 4-year deal that is basically guaranteeing him three years of franchise tags starting right now. That way, he's taken care of injury-risk-wise, and he'll have about $45 million guaranteed. However, there DEFINITELY needs to be off-field clauses related to that guarantee.

Then, you can revisit in Year 4.

His value to the team warrants this. He's the best player they have.

 

[beware_d-ware]

Thats re-writing a bit of history. Jerry already paid Lael for the draft screwup: https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/...ly-gets-huge-two-year-extension-from-cowboys/

and treated him better than anybody else would have!

Murray is not complaining, he took that used up Cowboys season all the way to the bank - it was a great windfall for him!

That's the thing with La'El: that money was a 1st round contract we owed him. IIRC, if you look at the total value of his UDFA deal plus his second contract, it's about equal to what the #16 pick gets paid over 5 years. We have fans now saying "cut him! he's overpaid! start C-Will at RT!" and while that might be a defensible decision on the micro scale, on the macro scale we are a lot better off honoring our agreement.

And WRT Murray: we probably took 2 or 3 years off his career by giving him the highest workload of the decade, then didn't even attempt to resign him afterwards. That was just a bad faith move by the team.

 

[khiladi]

Despite what people "hope" for in this situation, a deal is going to get done. You don't roll into a season with rooks helping to protect your QB and without the man through whom your QB (and offense) has been mostly successful. For all the stuff about Zeke's agent leading him down the wrong path, it's actually perfect timing, was probably planned from the outset of his career, and will pay off in the end. What people "feel" about it is irrelevant.

Exactly... Garrett’s last year.. Dak’s contract, his career being built off Zeke, can’t even throw a TD when Zeke is suspended. Cooper also holds leverage as well as far as Dak is concerned. Jerry trying to sell Dak as the future of the franchise, because he’s marketable.

Zeke’s contract context is totally different than a normal contract dispute.

 

[America's Cowboy]

Despite what people "hope" for in this situation, a deal is going to get done. You don't roll into a season with rooks helping to protect your QB and without the man through whom your QB (and offense) has been mostly successful. For all the stuff about Zeke's agent leading him down the wrong path, it's actually perfect timing, was probably planned from the outset of his career, and will pay off in the end. What people "feel" about it is irrelevant.

The Cowboys rolled into their 2016 season with a rookie-at-that-time RB (Zeke) helping to protect their rookie-at-that-time QB (Dak) and offense lead the team to a 13-3 record. What makes anyone think not 1 but 2 talented rookie RBs in Pollard and Weber could not do the same now for a 3 year seasoned QB in Dak, much improved WRs & TEs, plus a stacked Oline? That's not including a much more creative new but talented O-Coordinator?

The offense will be fine without Zeke.