Kellen Moore: Pollard is a complete back

[Jarntt]

Phenomenal block? It worked out well for us for sure, but it was real close to a whiff with David stepping over or around him and getting a clean shot on Dak. Not exactly a clip to use for teaching purposes. Love Pollard though and he has blocked better this year

 

[Risen Star]

Phenomenal block? It worked out well for us for sure, but it was real close to a whiff with David stepping over or around him and getting a clean shot on Dak. Not exactly a clip to use for teaching purposes. Love Pollard though and he has blocked better this year

I have no idea what you're talking about. That was textbook. He completely neutralized the rusher.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I dont know, fan favorite? I already stated he's a shell of his former self. Sorry that you don't feel attached to players that put in good work for the team throughout their tenure.

Never like the draft pick, never liked the extension and never like the player. He had a good first few years, but he was also running behind one of the best line in football. As soon as that went, so did Zeke. Way overpaid and overrated in my opinion.

Hate to break it to you, but he is no longer a fan favorite. Im a pollard guy. The original Pollard guy.

 

[JohnsKey19]

I have no idea what you're talking about. That was textbook. He completely neutralized the rusher.

I'm not sure what people expect. That's about as good as you'll see from a RB picking up a blitzing LB from distance.

 

[Jarntt]

I have no idea what you're talking about. That was textbook. He completely neutralized the rusher.

Head down, dove out. Luckily David didn't change direction or like I said saw it coming and just stepped over/passed him. That is not a textbook block by any means. But, yes, completely neutralized him. Just don't do that every time when a pass rusher/blitzer is out in space. Different when he is coming thru a hole and you know he can't move laterally

 

[Reid1boys]

Zeke has had a good year actually. He gets 1st downs and he gets into the end zone, but........... that being said, he should get 25% of the snaps compared to Pollard. The offense is just totally different with Pollard in the game vs Zeke.

 

[Reid1boys]

He better be resigned !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If let him walk to keep Zeke, there will be riots in the streets!

I think we could keep Zeke, but if we do, it will be for peanuts compared to what he is making now.

 

[catskillthunder]

Never like the draft pick, never liked the extension and never like the player. He had a good first few years, but he was also running behind one of the best line in football. As soon as that went, so did Zeke. Way overpaid and overrated in my opinion.

Hate to break it to you, but he is no longer a fan favorite. Im a pollard guy. The original Pollard guy.

I love Pollard, I think he's dynamic and should 100% be the full time guy with the exception of getting spelled when necessary. I too wasn't a fan of the pick, I wanted Ramsey at that spot, but Zeke panned out pretty well in my opinion.

 

[gimmesix]

Keep Zeke as a short yardage back, at a minimal salary.

Elliott is on the books for $5.8 million next year no matter what because of guaranteed bonuses. His dead cap hit would be $11.8 million if we cut him (because of the prorated bonuses for the next two years), so if the team can restructure and take his base salary down to $1 million or even $2 million, that might be worth doing.

His cap hit right now for 2023 would be $16.8 million. His cap hit with a $2 million base salary instead of $10.9 million would be $7.8 million. So we actually would save more against the cap doing something like that. Of course, players are prideful so I doubt he'd take an $8.9 million pay cut, but he isn't worth more than that at this point. At the most, we could reduce him to the same level as his dead cap hit for the year, but we don't really save doing that because we still have the dead cap hit the next year and year after. The Cowboys may just view it as better to get his entire dead cap off the books.

Me? I think it's reasonable to keep him at a reduced rate that would cut his dead cap hit for next year. Instead of having $5 million to spend by cutting him, we'd keep him and have nearly $9 million to spend if we reduced his base to $2 million (if my numbers are accurate). At $2 million, playing time isn't even guaranteed if someone better steps up.

 

[Proof]

I simply cannot see it any differently. (Franchise tag)
He's become a Core piece player here now.
And players the Jones really want to keep and re-sign - they manage to find ways to keep them.

Tag him at 12 million come march, and make a long term deal by July- August.

Imo, there's only an handful of starting backs that equal his sustained burst and homerun capability (McCaffrey, Barkley, Chubb, Henry, Taylor, Etienne and Kamara)

When you stubble upon a Kamara, Chubb or Taylor , without investing first round picks ,you keep them and lock them up long term.

i'm still confused as to why the tag for backs has gone up this year when salaries have trended down.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

It is sad that he is not the back he once was.
He has given us a lot of fond memories.
He has taken a lot of hits over the years and I think it's finally wore him down.
He is still good in short yardage, so I am hopeful we can keep him next year on a greatly reduced salary.
Pollard is now the man and should get the bulk of the carries.

I don’t even have a personal issue with Zeke. It’s his stans that provide me the comic relief. Same as it was for Jaylon during his last few seasons here.

 

[MyFairLady]

If you project his career out 1 more year his yards per carry will be around 3.6 and his yards per target will be around 3.7. In other words he will be the least efficient player in the history of football. Nothing short of a time machine can save him now.

 

[MyFairLady]

I

I don’t even have a personal issue with Zeke. It’s his stans that provide me the comic relief. Same as it was for Jaylon during his last few seasons here.

Jaylon is a good comparison. The guy was so actively terrible he was killing the team yet people would still defend him. It was like they cared more about J Smooths feelings than winning football games.

 

[America's Cowboy]

Zeke is averaging $16 mil/year. Have Zeke take a 50% paycut. Give Tony Pollard the cut $8 million. Both receive $8 million/year. Very fair pay. Get to keep both RBs. Problem solved.

 

[Kingofholland]

He better be resigned !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If let him walk to keep Zeke, there will be riots in the streets!

Yeah I don't see how they could keep Zeke over Pollard based on what we've seen this year.

 

[john van brocklin]

I don’t even have a personal issue with Zeke. It’s his stans that provide me the comic relief. Same as it was for Jaylon during his last few seasons here.

Fans get sentimental and its hard to keep objectivity.
I think this factor has hurt Jerry as GM as he gets too attached to players.

 

[jwitten82]

Are their any of those left ?
They credibility would be on pretty thin ice at this point.

Yes, they're out there. Some even lie when given the stats to backup the claims that Pollard is the better back.

 

[john van brocklin]

I think we could keep Zeke, but if we do, it will be for peanuts compared to what he is making now.

Agreed,
Would like to see him stay at a reduced salary.
He could be our short yardage specialist

 

[Coogiguy03]

Leaving no excuse for retaining Zeke next year.

Mark this post down, they will hype up the love for Zeke something crazy making us think they will keep him just watch

 

[john van brocklin]

Elliott is on the books for $5.8 million next year no matter what because of guaranteed bonuses. His dead cap hit would be $11.8 million if we cut him (because of the prorated bonuses for the next two years), so if the team can restructure and take his base salary down to $1 million or even $2 million, that might be worth doing.

His cap hit right now for 2023 would be $16.8 million. His cap hit with a $2 million base salary instead of $10.9 million would be $7.8 million. So we actually would save more against the cap doing something like that. Of course, players are prideful so I doubt he'd take an $8.9 million pay cut, but he isn't worth more than that at this point. At the most, we could reduce him to the same level as his dead cap hit for the year, but we don't really save doing that because we still have the dead cap hit the next year and year after. The Cowboys may just view it as better to get his entire dead cap off the books.

Me? I think it's reasonable to keep him at a reduced rate that would cut his dead cap hit for next year. Instead of having $5 million to spend by cutting him, we'd keep him and have nearly $9 million to spend if we reduced his base to $2 million (if my numbers are accurate). At $2 million, playing time isn't even guaranteed if someone better steps up.

Sounds reasonable!
I am forwarding your email to Jerry as we speak.