Is a big contract for Elliott the best decision?

Bullflop

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If the Cowboys latest proposal is accepted, I think it's probably a win for both sides. The team get's EE signed for less than Gurley's contract and Zeke gets enough to keep him satisfied and actively on the team. Normally, successful contracts are most likely to be struck when both sides compromise their insistence upon their original expectations. Most of the things that might occur in its wake are relatively unpredictable.
 
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Ranching

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But they're not paying the big quarterback contract yet, and they might not.
He's getting 1st round money already. Much more than Dak. Give Zeke a huge cap hit this year and then bring it down for next year when Dak and Cooper start their contracts. You don't let the best back in the league walk or sit in Cabo when you wanna win a SB. How many more chances does Jerry have? Of course you sign him. All the holier than thou character guys around here have probably never been in a locker room or hung out with the boys after practice. Zeke is immature, but there's a lot of bad men playing pro football.
 

Stash

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If the Cowboys latest proposal is accepted, I think it's probably a win for both sides. The team get's EE signed for less than Gurley's contract and Zeke gets enough to keep him satisfied and actively on the team. Most of the time, successful contracts are likely to be struck when both sides compromise their insistence upon their original expectations.

I can't help but to feel that their is an agent's agenda at work here. Would that guy be willing to be known as the guy that got the two-time league leading rusher the second best contract?
 

Hawkeye19

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Like many of you, I find myself conflicted regarding the whole Zeke holdout issue. On one hand, I realize that he truly is a great player and a difference maker on the field. These Cowboys are certainly better with him than without him.

But is it in the team's best interests long term to make him the league's highest paid running back?

It certainly helps this year if they truly feel that they're a championship contender, and may be the difference between getting to the playoffs and not.

But can you trust the guy not to flake out again? Can you trust that once he gets paid he'll be the same iron man on the field that he has been? Can you trust him period?

And in a league that for better or worse (not being debated here) doesn't pay running backs big money, are you screwing up your cap by being the team that pays the most for theirs?

If you pay your running back tops in the league, where else are you short-changing yourself? Who are you forced to let go when there's no more cap room left?

Add it all up and I wonder if paying him is ultimately in the Cowboys long-term best interests?

What say you?

Good post...

Conflicted is the perfect word. The offense is predicated on him, and he certainly makes us better in the short term.

As you said though— can you trust him? Honestly? No— I don’t. I will root for him on Sundays and breathe a sigh of relief when he finally gets signed— but I will also always be waiting for the next off field issue that could result in him getting suspended, and we all know that committing money to him now limits our flexibility in the longterm.

I guess for me, I want to see us compete now. We have a shot to make some noise the next few years, and Zeke definitely helps us compete now— so I am in the sign him crowd. Roll the dice. Win now. To back away from signing elite young talent when you have a chance to contend is a mistake IMO...
 

Stash

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He's getting 1st round money already. Much more than Dak.

Less than $9 million. Nothing close to "QB money".

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/los-angeles-rams/jared-goff-18949/


Give Zeke a huge cap hit this year and then bring it down for next year when Dak and Cooper start their contracts. You don't let the best back in the league walk or sit in Cabo when you wanna win a SB. How many more chances does Jerry have? Of course you sign him. All the holier than thou character guys around here have probably never been in a locker room or hung out with the boys after practice. Zeke is immature, but there's a lot of bad men playing pro football.

And "bad men" make for "bad investments". Especially the idea of front loading a deal with one.
 

Stash

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Good post...

Conflicted is the perfect word. The offense is predicated on him, and he certainly makes us better in the short term.

As you said though— can you trust him? Honestly? No— I don’t. I will root for him on Sundays and breathe a sigh of relief when he finally gets signed— but I will also always be waiting for the next off field issue that could result in him getting suspended, and we all know that committing money to him now limits our flexibility in the longterm.

I guess for me, I want to see us compete now. We have a shot to make some noise the next few years, and Zeke definitely helps us compete now— so I am in the sign him crowd. Roll the dice. Win now. To back away from signing elite young talent when you have a chance to contend is a mistake IMO...

I can't argue with that position, even if it doesn't mirror my own.

I'll never be a fan of his. I respect his ability, but he's an idiot. Always has been, always will be.

From the stupid feed me on the field, to the screw ups off of it. He'll never be my kind of a player.
 

Stash

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Much more than Daks two million. You can sign a very good player or two with that extra 7 million.

Not QB money. That's the point I'm trying to make.

And Dak is due for his "QB money" at this point, and that's the difference.
 

morasp

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No, I'd pay Cooper first. He's in camp trying to get ready for the upcoming season and he has a lot less off field baggage. If we don't get him signed that's a huge waste of a first round pick.
 
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Ranching

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Not QB money. That's the point I'm trying to make.

And Dak is due for his "QB money" at this point, and that's the difference.
So you would rather have Dak at 40 than Zeke at 15?
BTW, money is money, it all adds up to the same cap. Dak's contract will cripple us much more than Zeke's, and Dak needs Zeke much more than Zeke needs Dak. So, to answer your question, sign Zeke. Dak already said no hometown discount, we need to sign Zeke now while we can afford him.
 

gmoney112

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He's getting 1st round money already. Much more than Dak. Give Zeke a huge cap hit this year and then bring it down for next year when Dak and Cooper start their contracts. You don't let the best back in the league walk or sit in Cabo when you wanna win a SB. How many more chances does Jerry have? Of course you sign him. All the holier than thou character guys around here have probably never been in a locker room or hung out with the boys after practice. Zeke is immature, but there's a lot of bad men playing pro football.

Cap hit between this year and next should really just be added together, for all intents and purposes.

Whatever we don't use this year rolls over to next, so whether you give him a bigger hit this year or next, you still have the same number on next years cap.

His cap hit this year will be low. They also picked up the fifth year option. So, a 4 year deal would actually end 6 years from now.

Interesting note on that, the signing bonus if he signs this year, is prorated from this year. So, you could cut him after the first year of his new deal, and the dead money would be minimal. Roster bonuses will probably be on the deal starting in 2021.
 

Stash

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So you would rather have Dak at 40 than Zeke at 15?

Never said that. :laugh:

BTW, money is money, it all adds up to the same cap.

So whatever you pay Zeke's will affect what you can pay other players?

Dak's contract will cripple us much more than Zeke's, and Dak needs Zeke much more than Zeke needs Dak. So, to answer your question, sign Zeke. Dak already said no hometown discount, we need to sign Zeke now while we can afford him.

So your plan involves letting Dak go then?
 

jazzcat22

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I can't help but to feel that their is an agent's agenda at work here. Would that guy be willing to be known as the guy that got the two-time league leading rusher the second best contract?

If that is the way this agent is, then Zeke has the wrong agent. Agents have been fired before when contact negotiation are going on. Some were fired, a new agent hired, then a deal got done.
 

Stash

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If that is the way this agent is, then Zeke has the wrong agent. Agents have been fired before when contact negotiation are going on. Some were fired, a new agent hired, then a deal got done.

They have been, yes. But we'll have to see who is truly running things and if the tail wags the dog here.
 

Bullflop

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I can't help but to feel that their is an agent's agenda at work here. Would that guy be willing to be known as the guy that got the two-time league leading rusher the second best contract?

That depends upon your point of view if you're that agent. Contracts are usually successful when both sides act in good faith. Once that is done, if they're smart, they'll only sign when both sides are mutually satisfied with their deal. It's always a give and take proposition. Compromise is the key.
 
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CowboysRule

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All the holier than thou character guys around here have probably never been in a locker room or hung out with the boys after practice. Zeke is immature, but there's a lot of bad men playing pro football.
I don't care if he murders people in his spare time (as long as he doesn't get caught). My problem is that this sets a precedent for all the other players that you can just hold out to get what you want. Would he have gotten paid after this year? Most likely. This didn't need to happen.
 

McKDaddy

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I wouldn't have offered him the newest offer. Great player but situation doesn't dictate that I cave to his "wants".
 

aikemirv

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My opinion is that if Dak is your QB, then you have to keep Zeke.

So, I have come to terms that Jerry is on board with Dak, so I am all for signing Zeke.

Long term for the Cowboys, I don't think that Zeke playing this year is best. I think him sitting out will expose Dak for who he is and save us from committing too much cap capital on a QB that can't carry the team.
 
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