Sturm: Cowboys to wait until the last minute on Zeke?

[FuzzyLumpkins]

A couple quick questions on that...Isn't there some sort of limit to how many you can designate each year as June 1 cuts? I thought the league limited it to 1 or 2 per year, but can't confirm that. Also are traded players eligible to be tagged as a June 1 roster move for cap purposes?

Yeah it is 2 players. First article points that out.

As for the latter, this rule doesn't apply to trades and given that the change was made because of what it did to players entering into market late and traded players being under contract, I doubt they would have anything like that aside.

 

[Bagman]

yes that's a good strategy then threaten post June 1st cut meaning he will be way outside the FA period with little options left, BUT he will get 5mil this year and 6 next even if hes not playing, so he has some leverage, thats a nice vacation and severance package.LOL

He's not guaranteed any money next year. Zero dollars next year. Only his salary is due him this year. Cutting him is the obvious thing to do.

 

[bigE79]

Have the Cowboys ever done this?

Tex Schramm

 

[big dog cowboy]

It’s about getting a better RB

My mantra all along.

 

[MyFairLady]

If the players don't want to lose leverage then don't suck. It is pretty simple really.

 

[LonnieElam]

Jeff Cavanaugh, who's now on 97.1 The Freak, was saying if we kept Zeke, that would be like 26 million the Cowboys are paying running backs. That's the most in the NFL, and still about 8mil more than the team behind us - the Titans.

 

[rambo2]

You know Zeke will be the starting RB next season.

Jerry can't move on and Dak 100% is vouching for his BFF to stay around.

This will go down with your 8 win prediction. They are cutting Zeke.

 

[rambo2]

Jeff Cavanaugh, who's now on 97.1 The Freak, was saying if we kept Zeke, that would be like 26 million the Cowboys are paying running backs. That's the most in the NFL, and still about 8mil more than the team behind us - the Titans.

They aren't keeping Zeke.

 

[Sydla]

They aren't keeping Zeke.

It all comes down to how much of a pay cut he takes.

 

[Ken]

We are franchising an injured RB and playing mind games with an overpaid and washed up player while the Eagles aren't going to franchise anyone (mostly because they can't afford to) and there are running backs all over the place in FA and draft.

Smart.

 

[CouchCoach]

Time to take control back from the players like Zeke, DLaw, and Dak who held the organization hostage for their own financial benefit and time for Jerry to grow a pair and start making the rules when it comes to negotiating power.

What it is time for is management to treat this like a business like the players do.

 

[XXLMike]

The most overpriced overpaid overrated cowboy ever .

Good riddance

 

[Sydla]

We are franchising an injured RB and playing mind games with an overpaid and washed up player while the Eagles aren't going to franchise anyone (mostly because they can't afford to) and there are running backs all over the place in FA and draft.

Smart.

I wouldn't have tagged Pollard either but I can see some logic in not wanting to have to completely rebuild the running back room from scratch (I wouldn't have minded it but I can see why McCarthy might not want to). I suspect they work out a longer term deal but we will see.

But unless Elliott takes some ridiculous pay cut, just cut him and move on. In a year with as strong a draft class as there is, just cut Elliott and move on. Pollard, a rookie, and then maybe a cheap vet if you aren't still sold on Davis is fine. But my god, they just can't seem to get over Elliott.

 

[Carson]

A couple quick questions on that...Isn't there some sort of limit to how many you can designate each year as June 1 cuts? I thought the league limited it to 1 or 2 per year, but can't confirm that. Also are traded players eligible to be tagged as a June 1 roster move for cap purposes?

It’s 2

 

[Reid1boys]

I have never been one that felt the team owes a player anything, and that was reinforced after Randy Gregor dumped all over Jerry and left for the Broncos. So I am about doing what is best for Dallas. After keeping Pollard, the 2nd year back we have Davis...... I would draft a RB in the 3rd or 4th rds to take Zeke's load. I did like what he did on 3rd and short and goal line work, but not to the tune of 5 or 6 million. Get a rookie and move on. Plus, by moving on it gives you a full year to see if the rookie you draft allows you to move on from Pollard. Sorry Zeke, UNless you are coming for damn near league minimum, Im moving on...... and I love the guy.

 

[RonnieT24]

yes that's a good strategy then threaten post June 1st cut meaning he will be way outside the FA period with little options left, BUT he will get 5mil this year and 6 next even if hes not playing, so he has some leverage, thats a nice vacation and severance package.LOL

That's his cap hit not his salary. If they release him they will not owe HIM a dime. But they will owe 11 million over two seasons against the cap.

 

[rambo2]

It all comes down to how much of a pay cut he takes.

You don't think the deep draft class has anything to do with it? Doesn't the team get better as soon as they draft one of these running backs to replace Zeke?

 

[Sydla]

You don't think the deep draft class has anything to do with it? Doesn't the team get better as soon as they draft one of these running backs to replace Zeke?

Jerry tends to be loyal, especially to guys that he's protected over the years like Elliott. I think he struggles with cutting guys, especially ones he likes. Two, they may be looking at the short term here. Cutting him now saves only $5 million. If they get him to cut his base, they could end up saving more in the short term. The June 1 designation only gives them cap relief post June 1 so if they have any ideas about spending a bit more in FA this year, they likely need the cap savings now, not later.

I am not predicting what they will do but I think they want to keep him at a lower base salary. If they didn't, there's no reason to not just cut him soon. The fact it's being reported they may wait means to me, at least, they want the leverage over Zeke to make it tougher for him to turn down a large pay cut.

 

[RonnieT24]

You don't think the deep draft class has anything to do with it? Doesn't the team get better as soon as they draft one of these running backs to replace Zeke?

You might like how the 2010 team immediate got better when the rookie FB whiffed on blitz pickup resulting in a season ending broken collar bone for Romo? Or perhaps we prefer the 2015 season when Joseph Randle was too busy locating the meat on the bone to pick up the blitz resulting in another broken collar bone for Romo. Yes running backs can come in and tote the rock from day one because that's what they been doing since they were 6 years old. It's the other stuff they are asked to do in the NFL that keeps them on the sidelines until they figure it out.

 

[Sydla]

You might like how the 2010 team immediate got better when the rookie FB whiffed on blitz pickup resulting in a season ending broken collar bone for Romo? Or perhaps we prefer the 2015 season when Joseph Randle was too busy locating the meat on the bone to pick up the blitz resulting in another broken collar bone for Romo. Yes running backs can come in and tote the rock from day one because that's what they been doing since they were 6 years old. It's the other stuff they are asked to do in the NFL that keeps them on the sidelines until they figure it out.

Only problem with this is that it appears people overrate how good Elliott is at pass blocking, at least now in his later years.

But I tend to agree with the overall point here, you likely can't just burn the running back room to the ground, start over and just go with mostly rookies next year. My ideal situation would be a vet FA on the cheap, Pollard on a sensible longer term deal and then a rookie from those middle rounds like McIntosh from UGA or Spears from Tulane.