Agreed...I never once felt with zeke that he was going to run for a big 30 or 40 years gain...his best attribute at this point is taking the hits in the middle and wearing down the defense.
That was then this is now. He certainly has some value, but no one believes he will put up those numbers over the next two years. I expect even if he plays anywhere for next two years he'd be fortunate to put up half that. The league is full of running backs who were great for a four or five years and then the tires just fell off. While Zeke is a warrior there is zero doubt in most peoples minds that the explosion and quickness and speed are a distant memory. He was never a true slasher. He was a power back with good speed and good instincts and father time beats the hell out of those folks pretty quickly. I truly believe that there are almost no running backs worth a second contract. If they are a number 1 pick you see how they are for 4 years and then decide if you want to do the option year. If they are still productive after year 5 then you tag them for year 6 and they are flat out done then on your team because they are just too expensive at that point to keep.
Because of motivation or knee?
At what cost?
It's actually he who doesn't fit the Cowboys scheme anymore. I started saying this in 2020 .. It hasn't changed. All those delay handoffs are NOT what a downhill power back should be running. I don't know how much Zeke has left in the tank but he's been hampered by injury the last two seasons after getting off to pretty good starts both years. That's the reality that he like every other football player must face. The question is can he do enough in a reduced role to warrant being on this or any other team. But I will keep saying it ... you can never have enough good, tough, smart football players on your team. Zeke is a good, tough, smart football player. Watch him end up in New England.
I would offer you to go back and watch the night game at Philly early in the season. There was a run where Zeke ducked into the pile after about a two yard gain and dragged the pile for another 10. You couldn't even see him but you just saw the pile keep moving. In fact it was still moving when the ref blew the whistle or it might have gone another 10 yards because I don't think any of the Eagle defenders could get hold of his legs in that scrum and 3-4 of our linemen joined in and were pushing the pile too. That play embodies what Zeke do.. There were others but that one leaps to mind when I think about what he brings that the other backs on this team do not. I could give you other examples but as you've already made up your mind they never happened what would be the point. Zeke will either stay in Dallas or go somewhere else. I trust we will all live either way..
THIS
