1378 Yards, 12 TDs. as a backup player

[Jumbo075]

Stephen Jones only cares about the actual amount saved against the cap when making a decision about cutting a player.
- They save 10.9M on the overall multi-year cap accounting by cutting Zeke vs keeping him.
- The dead-money cap hits are irrelevant for any team that has more than enough contracts that can be restructured to gain current year cap space.

Stephen Jones also looks a future year CAP hits, which is why cutting Zeke makes more sense than restructuring him. Take the almost $11M cap hit in 2023, and that frees up millions in 2024, 2025 and 2026 he can use for other players coming into their prime.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Absolutely.

He knows that, too.

But he got paid fat.

Yeah he's made some good money in this league. I could say him taking a pay cut.

 

[Jayinem]

That would be like 25m$+ at the RB position next year. Is that feasible?

I'd like to know where you're getting 25 million is the franchise tag for a running back? I've heard like half that.

 

[xwalker]

Stephen Jones also looks a future year CAP hits, which is why cutting Zeke makes more sense than restructuring him. Take the almost $11M cap hit in 2023, and that frees up millions in 2024, 2025 and 2026 he can use for other players coming into their prime.

That's basically the same point that I'm making but it it far easier to loon at it the way I explained it.

They either pay or don't pay the 10.9M salary.
- If they pay it, then it has to hit the cap at some point in time.
- You can spend time listing all the cap hits by year in both scenarios but those all add up to a difference of 10.9M between the 2 scenarios.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

I'd like to know where you're getting 25 million is the franchise tag for a running back? I've heard like half that.

That would be if you kept both. It’s 10+ for Pollard on franchise and 16 for Zeke

 

[IceStar-D7]

I don't believe Pollard will be in high demand like most. Running backs are on every corner basically. No one will break the bank....I hope....

 

[Cmac]

Are we going to dismiss what the Commanders did to TPollard last week......shut him down too. And while he is faster, younger, and quicker than Zeke.......he don't get yards without blocking too. Believe it or not. OL play is a problem that no one wants to acknowledge.

 

[sacase]

The draft is loaded with RBs too. Could probably get a good one in the 3rd / 4th.

This is BS and Cowboys fans fanfiction. I pulled the stats a couple weeks ago. At the time Polard was the highest rated back at 7th that wasn't drafted in the 1st or 2nd. The backs above him were all 1st or 2nd rounders.

 

[TwoDeep3]

Why do people get hung up on titles?

 

[CowboysExchange]

I don't believe Pollard will be in high demand like most. Running backs are on every corner basically. No one will break the bank....I hope....

Anybody that amasses a pro bowl status and 12 tds and a 5+ avg rush and 10+ avg pass splitting snaps is gonna get paid really well I promise ya

The guy is a Pro Bowl Player for being tops in the League. He'd have 17-18 tds if his snaps were maxed out

 

[Sydla]

That would be like 25m$+ at the RB position next year. Is that feasible?

He said cut Zeke.

If they made him a June 1 cut which seems like the likely move if they do cut him, his dead money hit in 2023 would be around $5.8MM. Pollard's cap hit would be around $10.5 million if tagged. So the cap hit for the position would be around $16 million and change (granted, not ideal but certainly better than the alternative).

And your Eagles are gonna have to get real creative in the next offseason or two themselves with Hurts staring at a massive pay day.

 

[T-RO]

That would be like 25m$+ at the RB position next year. Is that feasible?

Not in any way. We might not be able to afford to keep Pollard. Pollard + Zeke dead cap + yet another premiere back?

Pure fantasy.

 

[CWR]

If he restructures, that forces dead cap to later years and Dallas to keep him longer. I believe that’s the reason he didn’t restructure last year, because they don’t want to have to be stuck with him for that much longer.

if they cut him, his cap # is over 11 M$, where it’s only a few million more to keep him. And Pollard’s franchise tag will be over 10m$. I think if they want to keep both, best option is a megadeal for Pollard with really low early cap hits until Zeke is gone

We tend to make a mistake and then compound that making another mistake, trying not to make a mistake.

TP will be the mistake avoiding a mistake. He's probably gone. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[john van brocklin]

Tony Pollard totaled 1007 rushing yards on 193 carries, and an additional 371 yards on 39 receptions in the 2022 season. This isn't elite level production, but it is much better production than the Cowboys received from the starting RB on the team, who rushed 231 times for 876 yards, and caught 17 passes for 92 yards. Ezekiel Elliott also scored 12 TDs, albeit many of them coming on short yardage dives into the end zone, after other players set him up.

On a per touch breakdown, here is a comparison:

Elliott - 3.9 yards per touch (968 yards / 248 touches), 4.84% TD/touch ratio (12 TDs / 248 touches)​

Pollard - 5.9 yards per touch (1378 yards / 232 touches), 5.17% TD/touch ratio (12 TD's / 232 touches)​

My suggestion for 2023 is that the Cowboys find a way to amicably part ways with Ezekiel Elliott and replace him with a free agent RB named Jamaal Williams who, although he is about 4 months older than Elliott, has a lot less wear and tear on his body - and will be much cheaper on the bottom line than Elliott. Elliott has carried or caught the ball 2186 times in his 7 year NFL career, an average of 312 touches per season. Williams, on the other hand, has carried or caught the ball only 1075 times in his 6 year career with the Packers and Lions - an average of 179 touches per season. This past season, Williams broke Barry Sanders season record for TDs for a Detroit Lion, with 17 rushing touchdowns.

On a per touch breakdown, here is how Williams 2022 season compares to Elliott and Pollard:

Williams: 4.2 yards per touch (1139 yards / 274 touches), 6.2% TD/touch ratio (17 TDs / 274 touches)​

At this stage in both their careers, Williams is about the same quality of RB as Elliott. The Cowboys have had a good combination in their running backfield with Elliott and Pollard. But Williams can replace Elliott for a much lower cost, giving the Cowboys the financial option of retaining the services of Pollard at a higher price. A 2023 backfield of Pollard and Williams can likely duplicate the production of the 2022 team, with a net lower overall cost.

It is time to thank Elliott for his contribution to the Cowboys, and move on to other options. Pollard has become one of the key contributors on this offense, along with CeeDee Lamb. Elliott is no longer the straw that stirs the Cowboys' drink. As fans, (and Cowboys management), there is no reason to bash Elliott. He's been a good RB for the team. But it is time to acknowledge the reality that he is no longer an elite RB, and no longer merits the high salary he is paid. Unless he's willing to take a drastic pay cut, the team needs to thank him, and move on. The Cowboys can save $4.8M against the salary cap in 2023 by cutting Elliott, and a total of $52.9M over the next 4 years by letting Elliott walk. That money can be used to sign some of the young defensive stars on the team. Jamaal Williams contract with the Lions was 2 years for $6M - a $3M per year average...for about the same production as Elliott.

Excellent write up!

 

[CowboysExchange]

That's basically the same point that I'm making but it it far easier to loon at it the way I explained it.

They either pay or don't pay the 10.9M salary.
- If they pay it, then it has to hit the cap at some point in time.
- You can spend time listing all the cap hits by year in both scenarios but those all add up to a difference of 10.9M between the 2 scenarios.

5.8 Million is the minimum he's playing for next year guaranteed but his salary is 10.9 million

I could see Jerrah signing Zeke up for another 4 year contract

If he's gonna run Zeke as the Lead Power Back he should pay the man top dollar!!!!

And then you can hear a pin drop from all the Zeke fan silence!!!

If he's on the same level as Pollard then franchise tag Pollard and pay Zeke the same as the tag?? Right??

Ha ha ha

This is the Politics of being a Cowboys fan. Talent doesn't override the payors offensive strategy

With these longer seasons we need like 75 man rosters.

 

[xwalker]

5.8 Million is the minimum he's playing for next year guaranteed but his salary is 10.9 million

I could see Jerrah signing Zeke up for another 4 year contract

If he's gonna run Zeke as the Lead Power Back he should pay the man top dollar!!!!

And then you can hear a pin drop from all the Zeke fan silence!!!

If he's on the same level as Pollard then franchise tag Pollard and pay Zeke the same as the tag?? Right??

Ha ha ha

This is the Politics of being a Cowboys fan. Talent doesn't override the payors offensive strategy

With these longer seasons we need like 75 man rosters.

??

Where did you get the 5.8M number?

 

[xwalker]

That would be if you kept both. It’s 10+ for Pollard on franchise and 16 for Zeke

10.9M to keep Zeke.

Cap hits above pay are from money already spent.

Having said that, they won't pay 10.9M plus franchise Pollard.

 

[CowboysExchange]

10.9M to keep Zeke.

Cap hits above pay are from money already spent.

Having said that, they won't pay 10.9M plus franchise Pollard.

I thought it was 5.8 million dead money to cut Zeke. 10.9 to keep him unless he signs a new contract

 

[Irvin88_4life]

Zeke should be used as a full back and short yardage and goal line situations

 

[lukin2006]

Pollard needs to start Monday. Elliot needs to sit…