Injuries like Pollard's

[buybuydandavis]

I'm, apparently, one of the few that want him to stick around. I'm sure he will bounce back just fine. Pair him with a new face in the backfield and let's do some running.

A big plus on Pollard is that he is more than a RB. He's the gadget web back we were looking for for years, *and* an elite RB. He took a fly pattern to the house for 68 yards.

Pairing Pollard with a big bruising RB is exactly what I'd want to see. Pollard should be our motion RB/WR. He's a problem for a defense as a personnel matchup problem. Gonna fly by a LB, gonna bounce off a DB.

 

[Adreme]

Tua's fibula didn't also fracture (Pollard's did) and broken bones don't heal in 28 days, so it wasn't exactly the same injury. Tua's also not a RB whose greatest assets are speed and quickness, who is now looking for a contract before we can see if he's lost any of it.

I'm not a fan of paying RBs a second contract, especially one coming off an injury to one of his wheels. I'd get younger and cheaper at the RB position, but I'm pretty sure the Jones boys continue to put too much money into that position because they like their guys.

A lot of times with RBs its about number of touches though and Pollard has a total of 510 rushes which for context is less than Zeke had in his first 2 years in the NFL. There is certainly a lot left in the tank there which largely is because they underused him on his first deal.

 

[Croomraider]

It's not that we would be better, because I don't think we immediately will, but it would be wise to not resign pollard and cut zeke.
We can draft two good RB's, it's a loaded class.
Unfortunately the NFL has proven that the worst thing you can do is invest in RB's past their 2nd contract.
Times up!

 

[Rockport]

Jerry said it's not broken, only torn ligaments.

Even if it was broken, fibula is the small bone in the lower leg. A Cowboys player (Eugene Lockhart) broke his fibula and returned to play the same season.

There have others that returned the same season.

It’s not the fibula that‘s the concern. They heal nicely. It’s the ligament damage around the ankle. I don’t see how that doesn’t limit his cutting ability at least in some way. But I’m no doctor so could be way off.

 

[Haimerej]

I broke my fibula in high school. Missed 4 games. Was walking on it within a week.

 

[Jake]

Jerry said it's not broken, only torn ligaments.

Dr. Jerry says a lot of things. Continue to believe him, if you like.

Cowboys' Tony Pollard suffers fractured left fibula in divisional loss at 49ers, needs surgery, per report​

Regardless, I'm not in the second contract to a RB business. Dallas found Pollard in the middle rounds, they can find his replacement. There's no reason to pay him.

 

[xwalker]

Dr. Jerry says a lot of things. Continue to believe him, if you like.

Cowboys' Tony Pollard suffers fractured left fibula in divisional loss at 49ers, needs surgery, per report​

Regardless, I'm not in the second contract to a RB business. Dallas found Pollard in the middle rounds, they can find his replacement. There's no reason to pay him.

Pollard was not ready to be the starter as a rookie...

 

[blueblood70]

A big plus on Pollard is that he is more than a RB. He's the gadget web back we were looking for for years, *and* an elite RB. He took a fly pattern to the house for 68 yards.

Pairing Pollard with a big bruising RB is exactly what I'd want to see. Pollard should be our motion RB/WR. He's a problem for a defense as a personnel matchup problem. Gonna fly by a LB, gonna bounce off a DB.

elite since when? 3.8 YPC down the stretch and in the playoffs no tds the last 5 games, seems to me the more hes used the more hes slowed down or hurt.. he very good, nowhere near elite. elite players don't need snap counts, he does. Playmaker, yes, elite NO...

example- game 1 TB 1.8 YPC(zeke 5.2), both games against Washington =1 YPC, again down the stretch 3.8 and stopped those big burst runs and Tds all but dried up..

 

[RonnieT24]

The thing that is most often overlooked with leg injuries and really any injury that restricts large muscle movement is that the thing can be 100% healed but still take months to return to the same level of strength, flexion and explosiveness as it was prior to the injury. These athletes take YEARS to tune their bodies to the levels needed to perform at the highest level. That doesn't just come back because they take the cast off or the stitches out. It takes weeks if not months of rehab work just to restore full function - range of movement, strength etc. THEN they can start working on returning to full strength/speed. And as we know in some cases the athlete never returns to the pre-injury level. We don't know where TP falls on that spectrum until he starts playing real games. We will learn next to nothing in camps and preseason. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, they're going to have to decide whether to pay him way before any of that happens.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

I'm, apparently, one of the few that want him to stick around. I'm sure he will bounce back just fine. Pair him with a new face in the backfield and let's do some running.

Still need to fix the run game blocking, run scheme. And "commit" to an nfc east run philosphy.
Im tired of tony having to showcase his better speed to the edge. Start churning yards UP the field through big holes.

 

[blueblood70]

The thing that is most often overlooked with leg injuries and really any injury that restricts large muscle movement is that the thing can be 100% healed but still take months to return to the same level of strength, flexion and explosiveness as it was prior to the injury. These athletes take YEARS to tune their bodies to the levels needed to perform at the highest level. That doesn't just come back because they take the cast off or the stitches out. It takes weeks if not months of rehab work just to restore full function - range of movement, strength etc. THEN they can start working on returning to full strength/speed. And as we know in some cases the athlete never returns to the pre-injury level. We don't know where TP falls on that spectrum until he starts playing real games. We will learn next to nothing in camps and preseason. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, they're going to have to decide whether to pay him way before any of that happens.

the good thing is it was the final game of the season with 10 week revery time and not being rushed back, he will be 100% game 1 and should not have any ill effects, has 8+ months of recovery and rehab for 10-12 week heal time. Seems to me he will be back to normal.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

elite since when? 3.8 YPC down the stretch and in the playoffs no tds the last 5 games, seems to me the more hes used the more hes slowed down or hurt.. he very good, nowhere near elite. elite players don't need snap counts, he does. Playmaker, yes, elite NO...

example- game 1 TB 1.8 YPC(zeke 5.2), both games against Washington =1 YPC, again down the stretch 3.8 and stopped those big burst runs and Tds all but dried up..

It would surprise me if people actuslly cared enough to look at tonys stats in the stretch run. I saw a couple 2.5 ypc.
Much of it is lingering zeke hate, and hang their hat on tony.
I like tony a lot. Hes a special player. But hes never "carried the load" any significant time, we still need a "fix" in our run game. And now injury uncertai ty. Despite our resident doctors opinions.
Tough situation, really.

 

[GRCowboy]

Tua's fibula didn't also fracture (Pollard's did) and broken bones don't heal in 28 days, so it wasn't exactly the same injury. Tua's also not a RB whose greatest assets are speed and quickness, who is now looking for a contract before we can see if he's lost any of it.

I'm not a fan of paying RBs a second contract, especially one coming off an injury to one of his wheels. I'd get younger and cheaper at the RB position, but I'm pretty sure the Jones boys continue to put too much money into that position because they like their guys.

Exactly. I would draft 3 running backs, all in the mid to later rounds (no earlier than 3rd round) -- at least one Zeke replacement and at least one quick receiving scatback type like Pollard and one other back at some point on day 3 as well.

Let Pollard walk and cut Zeke. Also, don't restructure Prescott, let Prescott play out the last 2 years of his contract as-is and prove himself. Let the new era begin.

 

[rambo2]

From reading other personal "doctor" opinions on the injury its very minor. Should be back up and ready to go before training camp.

Easy for them to say. Would they bet 10 million on it when they could draft a healthy back at one tenth of the price and buy a healthy receiver in free agency and gain a draft pick in next years draft?

 

[TwistedL0g1k]

If Pollard was 100% healthy, you could still debate whether it's wise to commit $10M to a running back entering his 5th season. I love the player, but better to spend that money on the DL and snag a nice young RB in round 3-4 in a deep draft for RB's.

 

[rambo2]

If Pollard was 100% healthy, you could still debate whether it's wise to commit $10M to a running back entering his 5th season. I love the player, but better to spend that money on the DL and snag a nice young RB in round 3-4 in a deep draft for RB's.

Looks like a no brainer to me. The only way a tag works well for them is Pollard having a huge year and playing a majority of the season.

 

[conner01]

Didn't know Tua was a RB?

He didn’t say he played the same position just the same injury. An RB might not be able to play 28 days later. But then again he won’t have to either
The point is this is not a career changing issue

 

[conner01]

If Pollard was 100% healthy, you could still debate whether it's wise to commit $10M to a running back entering his 5th season. I love the player, but better to spend that money on the DL and snag a nice young RB in round 3-4 in a deep draft for RB's.

I get the wanting a DT. But pollard is among the top playmakers in the nfl. He can change a game
There are only a few RB’s like him and what DT that you can get for that money is a real game changer?
We all want an impact DT, every team doez
But there not easy to get
We have an impact RB that we can have
Too me that’s the real difference in the decisions

 

[blueblood70]

It would surprise me if people actuslly cared enough to look at tonys stats in the stretch run. I saw a couple 2.5 ypc.
Much of it is lingering zeke hate, and hang their hat on tony.
I like tony a lot. Hes a special player. But hes never "carried the load" any significant time, we still need a "fix" in our run game. And now injury uncertai ty. Despite our resident doctors opinions.
Tough situation, really.

not hating on the guy just bringing in facts just in case some fans weren't paying attention.

i mean the final 4 RS game and 2 playoff games ZERO Tds..that's an eye opener and coupled with 3.8YPC id say he lost that explosive playmaking ability to end the season.. hes also only has 17 career tds in 4 seasons, zeke had 12 last year alone. seems to me the OL and run scheme were more the issue than any player one could signal out. we have got to get more physical in the run game up front,. once steele went out and we stated moving the OL around to cover injuries, we became one dimensional. it as easy for the D to stop the run and pay coverage and get to Dak with a basic front. both 9er losses IMO more on the OL and lack of run game or physicality up front.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

I get the wanting a DT. But pollard is among the top playmakers in the nfl. He can change a game
There are only a few RB’s like him and what DT that you can get for that money is a real game changer?
We all want an impact DT, every team doez
But there not easy to get
We have an impact RB that we can have
Too me that’s the real difference in the decisions

Not sure why you are so certain tony can "change the game". His stats...show a tail off late season. Likely for several reasons but it's there nonetheless.

If we make him #1, instead of the "change of pace back" (I EXPECT that position to be very productive)...can he "carry the load". Can he be productive and "change the game" as the main target of the defense?

We would hope...YES! But he hasn't done it ....ever. Now he has the injury...recovering/rehab instead of training.