An interesting thought about the Zeke situation

[shabazz]

I know the conventional wisdom is because of that bad contract with Zeke ($90 mil over 6 years) we’re basically stuck with him another year. The cap hit if they cut him next year (as I understand it) would be $12 million.

But is it really totally inconceivable?

Look at the two big moves the SB champion rams did- one last off season and the other two seasons earlier; and some other cap hit moves good teams made:

• In order to make the Matt Stafford trade they had to take a $24 million dead money hit to move on from Jared Goff. They basically took on some dead money to get Stafford. The Jones boys would never make a move like that.
• In 2019, the rams ate a ton of RB Todd Gurley’s $60 million dollar contract by making him a post June 1 cut. They took on an $11.75 million dollar cap hit for Gurley, and two years later they won a SB.
• And don’t forget the rams carried a $9 million cap hit from WR Brandin Cooks last year.
• After the 2019 season, the chiefs basically ate the last year of S Eric Berry’s contract- over $8 mil in dead money and stil won the AFC championship in 2020.

The general idea is here is sometimes moving on from a bad deal is worth it even if it hurts now. This team needs to make some bold moves.

Maybe the Cowboys SHOULD make Zeke a post June 1 cut and just bite that bad contract bullet. Because we could acquire younger cheaper RB talent in the upcoming draft and pair that RB with TonyPollard who is in the last year of his “cheap rookie deal”.

If I was GM, I would strongly consider it.

I think your theory is a sound one however in order for it to work, our FO would have to make all the other necessary moves like the Rams did, in order to succeed…..I don’t have that kind of faith in them to do so

 

[Cboyfan4ever]

I understand the premise of your post....but it is moving chairs around on the Titanic. In Dallas....talent alone will not cut it. You MUST overcome the Jones boys as well. We have NOTHING with Mick McCarthy. I repeat....we have....NOTHING. The blunders he has made you don't even expect from a middle school coach. First of all...his clock management issues should NEVER happen at this level. Especially from someone "coaching" as long as he has. But they absolutely should not happen 3 - 4 times in the SAME year....that is PROOF of his "work ethic". When Jerry hired him and TOLD him Kellen Moore would be the playcaller...that essentially put Mike on cruise control. And he's proven to be pretty good at driving on cruise control.

He doesn't call offensive plays. He doesn't call defensive plays. He hired Mike Nolan as a "return favor"...that lasted a year before Nolan proved to be the disaster he's always been. Dan Quinn was NOT a Mike hire. And in one year Dan proved how bad Mike Nolan was and he proved to be the best coach Dallas has hired since Parcells. So his few responsibilities are getting the team ready to play, throwing the challenge flag, going for it on 4th and clock management. He get's a 'D' in those categories. So we have a below average coach. In a below average division. A division with terrible QB play. And that promptly gets us bounced at home in the wild card round. In a game where smart football people shouted from the mountain top that Dallas was going to lose, they told everyone that would listen how we were going to lose....and we lost exactly how they said we would. Kyle Shanahann vs Mike McCarty was not a fair fight yesterday...would not be a fair fight today....will never be fair fight going forward. We have NOTHING with Mike McCarthy!

A walk around do nothing coach ala Garrett.

 

[foofighters]

I know the conventional wisdom is because of that bad contract with Zeke ($90 mil over 6 years) we’re basically stuck with him another year. The cap hit if they cut him next year (as I understand it) would be $12 million.

But is it really totally inconceivable?

Look at the two big moves the SB champion rams did- one last off season and the other two seasons earlier; and some other cap hit moves good teams made:

• In order to make the Matt Stafford trade they had to take a $24 million dead money hit to move on from Jared Goff. They basically took on some dead money to get Stafford. The Jones boys would never make a move like that.
• In 2019, the rams ate a ton of RB Todd Gurley’s $60 million dollar contract by making him a post June 1 cut. They took on an $11.75 million dollar cap hit for Gurley, and two years later they won a SB.
• And don’t forget the rams carried a $9 million cap hit from WR Brandin Cooks last year.
• After the 2019 season, the chiefs basically ate the last year of S Eric Berry’s contract- over $8 mil in dead money and stil won the AFC championship in 2020.

The general idea is here is sometimes moving on from a bad deal is worth it even if it hurts now. This team needs to make some bold moves.

Maybe the Cowboys SHOULD make Zeke a post June 1 cut and just bite that bad contract bullet. Because we could acquire younger cheaper RB talent in the upcoming draft and pair that RB with TonyPollard who is in the last year of his “cheap rookie deal”.

If I was GM, I would strongly consider it.

You're forgetting the reason why Jerry won't. I don't think this isn't about money and more about Jerry saying he was wrong. All teams make bad decisions but in Jerry's case, he just cannot say that he's wrong.

 

[Stash]

I know the conventional wisdom is because of that bad contract with Zeke ($90 mil over 6 years) we’re basically stuck with him another year. The cap hit if they cut him next year (as I understand it) would be $12 million.

But is it really totally inconceivable?

Look at the two big moves the SB champion rams did- one last off season and the other two seasons earlier; and some other cap hit moves good teams made:

• In order to make the Matt Stafford trade they had to take a $24 million dead money hit to move on from Jared Goff. They basically took on some dead money to get Stafford. The Jones boys would never make a move like that.
• In 2019, the rams ate a ton of RB Todd Gurley’s $60 million dollar contract by making him a post June 1 cut. They took on an $11.75 million dollar cap hit for Gurley, and two years later they won a SB.
• And don’t forget the rams carried a $9 million cap hit from WR Brandin Cooks last year.
• After the 2019 season, the chiefs basically ate the last year of S Eric Berry’s contract- over $8 mil in dead money and stil won the AFC championship in 2020.

The general idea is here is sometimes moving on from a bad deal is worth it even if it hurts now. This team needs to make some bold moves.

Maybe the Cowboys SHOULD make Zeke a post June 1 cut and just bite that bad contract bullet. Because we could acquire younger cheaper RB talent in the upcoming draft and pair that RB with TonyPollard who is in the last year of his “cheap rookie deal”.

If I was GM, I would strongly consider it.

I think applies more to Demarcus Lawrence this year than to Elliott. But Zeke’s time will come next year.

 

[Aven8]

The problem with all these contracts is we’ve always been pinned against the wall when they’ve had to sign them. Dlaw had his best year of his career when his was due and we didn’t have anyone else up and coming to take his place. Not one decent DE.

With Zeke nothing had to be done as he was still on his rookie deal, but JG was in his last year in a win or get canned situation. I blame JG for that debacle of a contract.

As for Coop, Lamb is going into his 3rd year but I’m not sure he’s ready to take that #1 WR label yet. He had 1,000 yards last season but he had a ton of drops too.

This team needs to do better in the later rounds of getting players ready to play like NE etc so you are not forced to sign these huge deals. Same with the Oline. Everyone doesn’t have to be a 1st rounder. Steele was UDFA and he’s proven he can play. KC got Creed in the 2nd and another Guard in the 6th.

 

[Doomsday101]

If I was to cut Zeke it would be after this season. Reason Dallas save 10 mill on the cap in 2023 as opposed to saving 0 against the cap this season.

 

[Bobhaze]

Zeke looked great the first 5 games of the season. I'm not sure how everyone forgets that.

I hate the bloated contract for a RB just as much as the rest, however I would roll the dice one more year for a healthy Zeke than take the cap hit now.

I haven’t forgotten that. But there are RBs available in the draft for 1/20th of the cost that could duplicate or exceed his performance.

If I was to cut Zeke it would be after this season. Reason Dallas save 10 mill on the cap in 2023 as opposed to saving 0 against the cap this season.

Meanwhile other front offices find a way to make moves like this and still stay under the cap.

 

[blueblood70]

Everyone said Jaylon Smith was uncuttable Blah Blah. Some like me said Teams find a way to get rid of underachieving players. Even tho Zeke is a JAG at this point he at least brings something to the table.. As soon they find a better option he is gone.. Salary don't matter...

Yup and what bob and other do not understand is paying a player 2.5times what his cap savings is to not be here is not fiscally responsible. not from where i sit a healthy zeke can contribute and Sjones is correct a better OL, run scheme etc will improve the run game [period we saw what zeke can still do at 5.1 YPC before he got hurt and the OL went in decline as well as pollard also getting hurt.

frankly IDC who they keep or cut im a DC FOOTBALL fan not money, man the business side of football is not what fans should be so enthralled if. Whomever they field this coming season ill support whole heartedly and its the str they represent and the star i support..

sorry guys half this place is about the money side and it gets stale real fast. we have zero control over players and money moves. we can debate the games all you want plays etc but once the season starts we have two choices move on from being fan or jst watch and debate actual football.

they will cut zeke i mean they let ware walk, cut Jaylon have made tough moves some of you clows say they aren't capable of..
if it doesnt make sense right this minute They wont..nothing to say or debate here

the FO know 100times more then the culmination of all of us in their world..jut because you read what the NFL and the Jonses allow you to doesn't give you the inside track on being soem kind of expert..they actualy are Experts and Money is their game long before the 1989 purchase and since have more then quadrupled their investment so contracts and caps is their game, they will figure it out..

 

[fivetwos]

Zeke looked great the first 5 games of the season. I'm not sure how everyone forgets that.

I hate the bloated contract for a RB just as much as the rest, however I would roll the dice one more year for a healthy Zeke than take the cap hit now.

Yes....same in 2020.

Part of it is the nature of the position. He had a lot of miles on him when he got here.

Which is why you don't use high picks on RB or give them cap breaking second contracts...

But our GM likes jersey sales and the term 'triplets.'

 

[blueblood70]

If I was to cut Zeke it would be after this season. Reason Dallas save 10 mill on the cap in 2023 as opposed to saving 0 against the cap this season.

x2

 

[Sydla]

Did you hear Stephen talking about Zeke at the combines? Honestly, after what I hear yesterday, I'm not sure a healthy Zeke will get cut after next season. Restructured maybe but not cut.........not hard to see he's one of Stephen's favorite players. Doesn't sound like he's blaming Zeke for our running game issues.

Restructure means just kicking more money into the future.

They'd have to redo his deal and make him take a pay cut. His base salaries going forward are all north of $10MM.

 

[Doomsday101]

I haven’t forgotten that. But there are RBs available in the draft for 1/20th of the cost that could duplicate or exceed his performance.
Meanwhile other front offices find a way to make moves like this and still stay under the cap.

meanwhile nothing, this is stupid,. You ditch a players and will be paying out the nose for him with 0 savings on the cap. You wait until next season you save 10 mill on the cap. Not rocket science. You want to cut off your nose to spite your face, and I sure as hell hope Jones is not that stupid. You have an out on his deal after next season, not hard to figure out

 

[Doomsday101]

x2

Right now people want to ditch every player on this team except for Parson. A 12-5 team will just get blown up, and they can Jones crazy? lol My god people need to stop thinking with their emotions. Dallas will cut some players, likely Demarcus Lawrence and Cooper but reading some of these post are beyond stupid.

 

[blueblood70]

Right now people want to ditch every player on this team except for Parson. A 12-5 team will just get blown up, and they can Jones crazy? lol My god people need to stop thinking with their emotions. Dallas will cut some players, likely Demarcus Lawrence and Cooper but reading some of these post are beyond stupid.

so called internet experts who dont realize its all moot what said in here.. we will watch whomever suits up and plays next year thats a reality,

 

[Doomsday101]

so called internet experts who don't realize its all moot what said in here.. we will watch whoever suits up and plays next year that reality,

Of course but I would much rather build off this past season than ditch the entire team.

 

[Gaede]

Zeke looked great the first 5 games of the season. I'm not sure how everyone forgets that.

I hate the bloated contract for a RB just as much as the rest, however I would roll the dice one more year for a healthy Zeke than take the cap hit now.

Same here. The drop-off is concerning. But I'm good with one more year, so long as we get Pollard significantly more carries

 

[quickccc]

I know the conventional wisdom is because of that bad contract with Zeke ($90 mil over 6 years) we’re basically stuck with him another year. The cap hit if they cut him next year (as I understand it) would be $12 million.

But is it really totally inconceivable?

Look at the two big moves the SB champion rams did- one last off season and the other two seasons earlier; and some other cap hit moves good teams made:

• In order to make the Matt Stafford trade they had to take a $24 million dead money hit to move on from Jared Goff. They basically took on some dead money to get Stafford. The Jones boys would never make a move like that.
• In 2019, the rams ate a ton of RB Todd Gurley’s $60 million dollar contract by making him a post June 1 cut. They took on an $11.75 million dollar cap hit for Gurley, and two years later they won a SB.
• And don’t forget the rams carried a $9 million cap hit from WR Brandin Cooks last year.
• After the 2019 season, the chiefs basically ate the last year of S Eric Berry’s contract- over $8 mil in dead money and stil won the AFC championship in 2020.

The general idea is here is sometimes moving on from a bad deal is worth it even if it hurts now. This team needs to make some bold moves.

Maybe the Cowboys SHOULD make Zeke a post June 1 cut and just bite that bad contract bullet. Because we could acquire younger cheaper RB talent in the upcoming draft and pair that RB with Tony Pollard who is in the last year of his “cheap rookie deal”.

If I was GM, I would strongly consider it.

- While there's no question, that Zeke has flat lost his burst – Garrett regime bulked him up and beat him up, and it’s taken it’s tol … that’s what makes this a cut loose discussion.

I thought that if ZKE could re-vamp himself under a more track field regiment (to regain agility and burst) than what he did with scat-back tactic with Skip Hicks, then maybe he'd
have more of a resurrection chance.

- However there’s also some other issues – we have a very questionable coaching staff. Per OC, OL coach and HC. And Jones management issues does not help matters.
I’ve seen the Packers under MM, make great use of their RBs in both run game and pass game.

They were able to get some production outta average RBs such as Eddie Lacy and Ty Montgomery –such could also happen with Zeke, even in this slower mode of his.

- We can talk about younger , ..faster … and cheaper RBs … but so long as Kellen Moore is allowed to handle the RBs, we will continue to mis-use, mishandle, under-utilized the RBs.
Pollard has been under-use under KM, .and that will not change, imo. Kellen is more geared to WRs/ TEs , ..not RBs. That is just not Moore’s forte.

- KM is very simplistic, plain and predictable in that area, and if he does rarely conjure up a Pollard jet-sweep or wild cat or Hulk run, ..he’ll stop ! .. and we will not see anything creative
for weeks on. It’s like if he prefers to middle gut or delay draw the run game and if we don’t overpower up front, we don’t stand a chance much else.

- I’m not sold yet on this OL coach either, (Philibin) or this Packer like zone block scheme. Maybe it’s not idea for the kind of Olinemen, and style the Packers prefer.

 

[quickccc]

- While there's no question, that Zeke has flat lost his burst – Garrett regime bulked him up and beat him up, and it’s taken it’s tol … that’s what makes this a cut loose discussion.

I thought that if ZKE could re-vamp himself under a more track field regiment (to regain agility and burst) than what he did with scat-back tactic with Skip Hicks, then maybe he'd
have more of a resurrection chance.

- However there’s also some other issues – we have a very questionable coaching staff. Per OC, OL coach and HC. And Jones management issues does not help matters.
I’ve seen the Packers under MM, make great use of their RBs in both run game and pass game.

They were able to get some production outta average RBs such as Eddie Lacy and Ty Montgomery –such could also happen with Zeke, even in this slower mode of his.

- We can talk about younger , ..faster … and cheaper RBs … but so long as Kellen Moore is allowed to handle the RBs, we will continue to mis-use, mishandle, under-utilized the RBs.
Pollard has been under-use under KM, .and that will not change, imo. Kellen is more geared to WRs/ TEs , ..not RBs. That is just not Moore’s forte.

- KM is very simplistic, plain and predictable in that area, and if he does rarely conjure up a Pollard jet-sweep or wild cat or Hulk run, ..he’ll stop ! .. and we will not see anything creative
for weeks on. It’s like if he prefers to middle gut or delay draw the run game and if we don’t overpower up front, we don’t stand a chance much else.

- I’m not sold yet on this OL coach either, (Philibin) or this Packer like zone block scheme. Maybe it’s not idea for the kind of Olinemen, and style the Packers prefer.

If we had competent front office, i'd ask McCarthy to implement and add his RB- how-know into the Kellen Moore offense, but they seem insistent on letting Kellen Moore run the entire show. and that's starting to be a huge problem.

I'd like to know that All of our coaches ( not just Kellen) did everything in their know and power to best utilize our RBs - far more than what we've seen under KM.

 

[Vinnie2u]

Yup and what bob and other do not understand is paying a player 2.5times what his cap savings is to not be here is not fiscally responsible. not from where i sit a healthy zeke can contribute and Sjones is correct a better OL, run scheme etc will improve the run game [period we saw what zeke can still do at 5.1 YPC before he got hurt and the OL went in decline as well as pollard also getting hurt.

frankly IDC who they keep or cut im a DC FOOTBALL fan not money, man the business side of football is not what fans should be so enthralled if. Whomever they field this coming season ill support whole heartedly and its the str they represent and the star i support..

sorry guys half this place is about the money side and it gets stale real fast. we have zero control over players and money moves. we can debate the games all you want plays etc but once the season starts we have two choices move on from being fan or jst watch and debate actual football.

they will cut zeke i mean they let ware walk, cut Jaylon have made tough moves some of you clows say they aren't capable of..
if it doesnt make sense right this minute They wont..nothing to say or debate here

the FO know 100times more then the culmination of all of us in their world..jut because you read what the NFL and the Jonses allow you to doesn't give you the inside track on being soem kind of expert..they actualy are Experts and Money is their game long before the 1989 purchase and since have more then quadrupled their investment so contracts and caps is their game, they will figure it out..

Outstanding...

 

[TequilaCowboy]

Zeke is not getting cut...at least not this year. So might as well accept it. He is a shell of himself i do agree, Just an overpaid fullback in my opinion; but nothing you can do about it now. Fullbacks are obsolete and so should Zeke. He got his money, so he can mosey on out of here next year. DLaw's contract is too much to take, he is a goner and they are trying to find out it they can trade Cooper, but no team with a decent GM is gonna bite on that one. And believe it or not, they do fire GM's on other teams.