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

[atlantacowboy]

Its better to designate him a post june 1st cut and let him sign somewhere else asap. Just cut him like we did DWare.

 

[atlantacowboy]

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.

We have already franchised Pollard. So there's the continuity. We then add a rookie. Its a deep RB class.

 

[Vinnie2u]

I really don’t care about dead money, bonus money or other peoples money.. Fact is like Jaylon and other player before.. They can be replaced by some one younger, better and cheaper. Keep it moving.

 

[fivetwos]

@Sydla …..100% correct on all of this topic. On a simple restructure, the coming years salary is paid up front as a signing bonus (less league minimum for game checks) and the cap hit for it is spread over the remaining life of the deal….but the money has already been in the players hands and is definitely no longer still owed.

It also explains how there can be a net cap savings even with dead money….because you’re dropping the high base salary.

@FuzzyLumpkins …….Yep, they did the same with Collins last year and used it for draft picks, in season signings, and rollover.

I can see them doing the same with Elliott, with Jerry in tears.

 

[RonnieT24]

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.

I don't know if people overrate how good he is as much as overrate the gap between he and Pollard. There was a chasm three years ago and that gap has narrowed some now. But that chasm was the #1 reason Pollard didn't play more snaps early on. Zeke is still the best blocking RB in the league in my view. All you have to do is turn on Sunday Ticket every week and watch other QB's getting rag dolled by unblocked blitzers or blitzers who steamroll the RB to appreciate Zeke's willingness to at least get in the way and I would say upwards of 80% of the time he buys Dak that extra time to wait for the routes to develop. There's nothing he nor anyone else can do when multiple guys up front whiff but Zeke generally gets at least one. Since edge rushers are only going to get faster and faster the need for a back (or SOME body in the backfield) to get in their way will continue to be ever more important.

The reality of the situation is Zeke's physical running style AND his throwing his body in front of pass rushers has taken the starch out of his game with the ball under his arm. So it falls to the Cowboys to either part ways with him or settle on a number they are willing to pay to have him on the roster. It's not complicated. At this point his value WITH the ball is less than his value without it except in short yardage and goal to go situations. I hope he stays because I think the trio of he, TP and Davis can be deadly so long as nobody gets hurt. If they don't bring him back they need to find a bruiser to replace him in the power run game and they absolutely need to find somebody to keep Dak from being lit up. That can't be Pollard because asking him to blitz pickup 10-15 times a game is a sure fire way to a) get him hurt or b) take the starch out of HIS game. And he aint as big and sturdy as Zeke so what took 4-5 to wear Zeke down might not take 1-2 years for Pollard.. If they try to use Pollard in that role I guarantee we will be sitting here this time next year or maybe the year after discussing how they need to move on from HIM.

 

[glimmerman]

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

If he offered to take the pay cut. I wonder what he will play for. And if gets 5 this year no matter what then if he will play for 7, JJ might pay that to have a great pass blocker and short yardage guy that maybe better this year than last year. His problem is he always needed 10 carries or so to get warmed up and break defenses down. We will have new blood in the RB room for sure.

 

[Jumbo075]

Tell blueblood there are no exceptions or other factors here with Elliott.

He should just say whoops, I am wrong and I apologize.

The Cowboys owe Elliott NOTHING if they cut him now. Certainly not $5 million like blueblood is saying.

He doesn’t understand the difference between cash accounting and accrual accouting. A lot of people don’t.

 

[Miller]

Yippee for us


https://www.yahoo.com/sports/pollard-tag-gives-cowboys-unenviable-192713861.html

The short-term fates of Ezekiel Elliott and Dalton Schultz are likely tied to the $10.1 million Pollard decision; the outcomes of those conversations within the front office will be revealed in the coming days, weeks, and months.

But for now, at this moment in time anyway, the team holds a unique record in the annals of NFL history.

The Cowboys currently have the most expensive running back corps the league has ever seen.

 

[rambo2]

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.

I'll like the Pittsburgh running back Izzy A. getting a 90 yard td to beat the Eagles.

 

[Verdict]

They can get relief the moment they cut him if they make him a regular cut. They don't have to wait until June 1 unless they just want $10 million in cap savings versus $5 million.

It's kind of a douchey thing to hold onto a player until a lot of FA dollars have been spent and then tell a guy take a pay cut or we will cut you. I want Elliott gone but that's just not a great thing to do IMO.

It would not be to the player’s advantage. Then again when Zeke held out it wasn’t to the team’s advantage then was it?

 

[rambo2]

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.

I suspect that the front office will want to get better and cutting Zeke should make them better.

 

[Verdict]

thats not how it reads...sorry but ill trust google over some fan base. Go read it depends on the type of money owed ie bonus, guaranteed, base etc we dont know what type is actually in zekes dead cap so we for sure as fan are not CPAS so im sire more details come out soon.

"Dead money for the NFL salary cap is guaranteed cash and bonuses for a player who no longer is on that particular team. The dead money comes from what the player was owed before the team decided to move on."

its owed no, us money that was spread out , no base is owed nothing is guaranteed but dead cap isn't fake money its money OWED as left over bonus.

https://sports.betmgm.com/en/blog/nfl/what-dead-money-nfl-salary-cap-bm07/#:~:text=Dead money for the NFL salary cap is guaranteed cash,team decided to move on.

I think you are misunderstanding what that rule is saying. But I don’t have a dog in this fight and I don’t really care, so carry on. I’m just trying to be helpful.

 

[CTcowboy203]

This makes sense but they won’t do this….they’ll talk about doing right by him and giving him ample opportunity and time to find the right deal. That’s if he’s released- which I hope he is

 

[blueblood70]

might not take 1-2 years for Pollard.. If they try to use Pollard in that role I guarantee we will be sitting here this time next year or maybe the year after discussing how they need to move on from HIM.

already might be showing not just the injury but look at Pollards numbers.,. last 4 rs games and 2 playoff games ZERO TDS...last 4 RS games 51 YPG at 3.8 YPC not much of that explosiveness we saw in the middle of the year. he at his best with not getting the most of split 12-15 carries 3-4 catches, anything over that and 14-15 games go by and pollard is less himself. if he becomes the #1 and then asked to do more blocking and shorter yardage i think it will be counterproductive. if zekes cut they will need a back similar to zeke to take zekes dirty carries and blocking. pollard most likely not here in 24 because of that. id like to see more of Malik.

 

[Kingofholland]

I kind of got the impression they already spoke with him about a paycut and his agents were determining his worth this week. If not it's the worst kept secret that I'm sure his agents would be asking the Cowboys about.

 

[doomsday9084]

Dallas put themselves in a bad position at RB. Going forward, I think the best solution:
'23: Tag Pollard, draft RB in 2nd or 3rd round, post June 1 cut Zeke
'24: Let Pollard go, draft another RB in 3rd or 4th round

 

[Sydla]

I don't know if people overrate how good he is as much as overrate the gap between he and Pollard. There was a chasm three years ago and that gap has narrowed some now. But that chasm was the #1 reason Pollard didn't play more snaps early on. Zeke is still the best blocking RB in the league in my view. All you have to do is turn on Sunday Ticket every week and watch other QB's getting rag dolled by unblocked blitzers or blitzers who steamroll the RB to appreciate Zeke's willingness to at least get in the way and I would say upwards of 80% of the time he buys Dak that extra time to wait for the routes to develop. There's nothing he nor anyone else can do when multiple guys up front whiff but Zeke generally gets at least one. Since edge rushers are only going to get faster and faster the need for a back (or SOME body in the backfield) to get in their way will continue to be ever more important.

The reality of the situation is Zeke's physical running style AND his throwing his body in front of pass rushers has taken the starch out of his game with the ball under his arm. So it falls to the Cowboys to either part ways with him or settle on a number they are willing to pay to have him on the roster. It's not complicated. At this point his value WITH the ball is less than his value without it except in short yardage and goal to go situations. I hope he stays because I think the trio of he, TP and Davis can be deadly so long as nobody gets hurt. If they don't bring him back they need to find a bruiser to replace him in the power run game and they absolutely need to find somebody to keep Dak from being lit up. That can't be Pollard because asking him to blitz pickup 10-15 times a game is a sure fire way to a) get him hurt or b) take the starch out of HIS game. And he aint as big and sturdy as Zeke so what took 4-5 to wear Zeke down might not take 1-2 years for Pollard.. If they try to use Pollard in that role I guarantee we will be sitting here this time next year or maybe the year after discussing how they need to move on from HIM.

I honestly don't care what or how the "starch" got out his game. I can only deal with the reality that he's a middling TB now with a massive cap hit.

 

[Sydla]

I suspect that the front office will want to get better and cutting Zeke should make them better.

I don't have a problem with that but something tells me they would rather just get him to take a big pay cut and keep him around. Again, Jerry and Stephen are pretty transparent with these things and when Stephen came out a few weeks ago and seemingly argued Elliott might be more important to the team than Pollard, that pretty much showed their cards.

IMO, if Elliott takes a big enough pay cut them, he's back.

 

[JonesBoys]

Is it really going to matter? They can announce they are cutting him now for June 1 I guarantee there will not be teams rushing to him to get him a decent contract. Near league minimum maybe but how many teams? They already know he is done and better off going with a backup running back that plays special teams. Zeke is not a starter.

 

[rambo2]

I don't have a problem with that but something tells me they would rather just get him to take a big pay cut and keep him around. Again, Jerry and Stephen are pretty transparent with these things and when Stephen came out a few weeks ago and seemingly argued Elliott might be more important to the team than Pollard, that pretty much showed their cards.

IMO, if Elliott takes a big enough pay cut them, he's back.

IMO, they are cutting Elliott and drafting a top 100 back.