The contract was awful even if he wasn’t going to start declining…you just don’t pay RBs big money let alone draft them in the top 5.
Again I agree we need Zeke bc in todays NFL you need 2 backs but I dont think he deserves 20+ carries anymore. He hasn’t conceded big plays to Pollard he just literally can’t make them himself anymore. This isn’t my opinion, it’s on the tape and in every explosive stat out there. TP didn’t need to grind the defense to strike last game - he had a 17 yard rush in the 1st quarter and a 18 yard rush in the 2nd.
And for the millionth time - no one is asking Pollard to be the 20+ carry workhorse. Also, he just came out and said he was joking about being tired.
You don't think that was a result of his agent whispering in his ear about how much money that comment was costing him? As for not paying RBs big money.. I agree if you're not going to use him.. but if the Cowboys would have continued to lean on Zeke for 300+ touches a year he absolutely would have earned his money and frankly IMHO they would have won more. But the contract is water under the bridge. You don't like it.. fine.. I don't care about it.
As for big plays? I guarantee you that if you switch the roles between Zeke and Pollard where you make Pollard the guy who softens up the defense (and the one the DC spends the entire week game planning for) and Zeke the guy who comes in fresh Zeke's big play numbers would go way up and Pollard's would come way down. Pollard was create against the Bears.. wunnerful..
Here are the Bears run defense numbers game by game:
Game 1 - 176 yards to the 49ers
Game 2 - 203 to the Packers
Game 3 - 92 to the Texans
Game 4 - 262 to the Giants
Game 5 - 117 to the Vikings
Game 6 - 128 to the Commanders
Game 7 - 70 to the Pats
Game 8 - 200 to the Cowboys
Game 9 - 77 to the Phish.
6 of 9 opponents have topped 100 yards and 3 of 9 have hit 200.
Pollard and the Cowboys running game did what they were SUPPOSED to do to them.
It does nothing to erase the .75 ypc against Washington or the 1.3 ypc against Tampa.. Or the fact that he averaged over 2 yards per carry LESS than Zeke against the Eagles. I mean if we're going to look at the picture let's not block out the parts we don't wanna see. I like Pollard in the role he's in. I think if he comes in and balls he should be allowed to continue to tote the rock. If comes in and delivers < a yard per carry then he should go back to the bench and let Zeke tenderize the defense a little more. Fine if folks disagree with that take.. I aint changin it.