While I would agree, the patriots are always an outlier. Philadelphia had the highest paid RT in the world when he signed his deal, and Cox was a top 2-3 biggest contract DT. Kelce is currently the highest paid center I believe, and we definitely have the most expensive DT duo and one of the highest paid Olines. Denver shelled out massive money to Manning, Ward, Ware, Talib and Demaryius Thomas in 2012-2014. Seahawks are considered one of the most frugal teams and just made Bobby Wagner the highest paid LB ever.
And that's the last 3 SB winners not named NE. Put together the best roster you can, using the entire salary cap. If you're better with 16m$ worth of role players than 16m$ worth of Ezekiel Elliot, then don't pay him. But if Zeke makes you a contender, if Zeke is your great advantage other people don't have, then I don't get what this whole pissing contest is going to achieve for Dallas. Because if you don't want to pay him the biggest contract any of us has ever seen, 5+ other teams will be waiting for him to finally break free, cash in hand. And then you can give that 16 million to Alfred Morris and some other still available FA's and cross your fingers.