The Cowboys didn't offer Zeke a reduced deal to avoid insulting him

[Hawkeye0202]

It was an overreaction. After Murray they thought someone like Tashard Choice could be the lead back.

Yep........Remember during Murray's last year, Jerry and Stephen said any RB could get 1000 yards behind this Oline? Then ran Murray to the ground and refused to give him more than $5M per. Murray later admitted he wanted $7M but would have accepted $6M to stay but Stephen wouldn't budge coz in their mind, they had Joesph Randel. After he blew up in their face and Murray's one year with Eagles/ Chip Kelly failed, they were going to bring him back but the Titans jump in at the min offered him a better deal. All this happened from the end 2014 season to the beginning of the 2016 off-season........why drafting Zeke was critical to them.

 

[Stash]

“The Cowboys bungled the original Ezekiel Elliottcontract, paying too much money and building in guarantees that made it impossible to move on before this year.”

This doesn’t get nearly as much attention as it truly deserves. Little Enos has botched these deals one after another and more people need to have the courage to call him out on it.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

That’s probably true but nothing wrong with treating him with respect and putting out this statement

100%...

 

[CowboyRoy]

they could have plugged in a number of backs that could have put up those numbers early in his career.We had absolutely the best line in football. When we lost Leary and tfred it declined

Yah Fred was the big one. And then Tyron going out every year after that killed us as well.

 

[stuckindc]

He’s done. Time to put it to bed. Had a great career. Made lots of money. It’s over.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

“The Cowboys bungled the original Ezekiel Elliottcontract, paying too much money and building in guarantees that made it impossible to move on before this year.”

This doesn’t get nearly as much attention as it truly deserves. Little Enos has botched these deals one after another and more people need to have the courage to call him out on it.

This is true but as for the contract........it was the perfect storm for Zeke where timing was everything. He had just finished the 3rd year of his rookie deal where he was top 3 in rushing with over 1400 yards. Everyone knew he wanted a new deal but thought he was fine waiting another year. LOL.....Zeke dropped a bomb, not showing up for OTAs and threatening to sit out w/o a new deal. Caught Jerry and Stephen totally off guard. Their lead rusher, who they just burned 4th overall pick on three years ago now wants a new deal or says he's sitting out. It was unprecedented .... player on a rookie deal demanded a new one immediately after his 3rd year.

What options did Stephen have? call his bluff and make him sit out, fold and give him a new deal or trade him.

 

[Stash]

This is true but as for the contract........it was the perfect storm for Zeke where timing was everything. He had just finished the 3rd year of his rookie deal where he was top 3 in rushing with over 1400 yards. Everyone knew he wanted a new deal but thought he was fine waiting another year. LOL.....Zeke dropped a bomb, not showing up for OTAs and threatening to sit out w/o a new deal. Caught Jerry and Stephen totally off guard. Their lead rusher, who they just burned 4th overall pick on three years ago now wants a new deal or says he's sitting out. It was unprecedented .... player on a rookie deal demanded a new one immediately after his 3rd year.

What options did Stephen have? call his bluff and make him sit out, fold and give him a new deal or trade him.

Yes. Call his bluff and watch him sit out. And watch another back do well in that offense.

Stephen panicked, caved, and made the absolutely worst decision he could make.

 

[CATCH17]

Look at this post right now, WASN'T ME!! I've spotted the decline several years ago, and then it was evident to more people. Yes they're two different backs, and years ago no doubt Zeke was better, but now over the last few seasons it's Tony hands down

Zeke used to have Pollards speed but still ran like a bull.

 

[Typhus]

The Jones' just never seem to stop learning.

 

[JustChip]

Right, and holding out in Cabo is not an insult

Not really. It’s a business move. The same one Emmitt did in 1993.

 

[tunahelper]

I’d take him back for $2 - $3 million a year.

(ducks)

I would take less money for Zeke to be a member of the Cowboys.

 

[mrmojo]

Yep........Remember during Murray's last year, Jerry and Stephen said any RB could get 1000 yards behind this Oline? Then ran Murray to the ground and refused to give him more than $5M per. Murray later admitted he wanted $7M but would have accepted $6M to stay but Stephen wouldn't budge coz in their mind, they had Joesph Randel. After he blew up in their face and Murray's one year with Eagles/ Chip Kelly failed, they were going to bring him back but the Titans jump in at the min offered him a better deal. All this happened from the end 2014 season to the beginning of the 2016 off-season........why drafting Zeke was critical to them.

Didn't McFadden get 1,000 yards in 2015? So any RB kind of did..............

 

[Aviano90]

Zeke will be in the Romo and Dez category where a portion of fans just won’t be able to cope without him being here. Romo and Dez fans were wrong. Zeke fans will be wrong too. Remember Romo was going to go to Denver or Houston and win the SB. Dez was going to GB or NO and becoming All-Pro again because his only problem was Dak, not his declining physical ability or poor route running. Should be interesting few years.

 

[AmericasTeam81]

There were still people who thought he was better than Pollard.

And they also reside at the top of the organization

 

[Flamma]

Not really. It’s a business move. The same one Emmitt did in 1993.

A bit different. Emmitt didn't hold out. He didn't have a contract. If you're not getting paid, you're not going to work.

 

[Buzzbait]

Yeah, one wouldn't want to insult the overpaid declining commodity running back......I'm insulted the Cowboys selected him in the first round 4th overall in a league where Running backs have become less of a value position and then caved to his contract demands with a year left on his contract.....

I had no problem with drafting Zeke in the 1st round, but caving to his Cabo contract demands with a year left on his contract was definitely against my better judgement, big mistake.

 

[StarLord]

He was 3rd in the league in rushing TD last year

This is like looking at Ws for a pitcher.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Didn't McFadden get 1,000 yards in 2015? So any RB kind of did..............

LOL...yea and was out of the league the following year. He scared no one.......

 

[CWR]

Yep........Remember during Murray's last year, Jerry and Stephen said any RB could get 1000 yards behind this Oline? Then ran Murray to the ground and refused to give him more than $5M per. Murray later admitted he wanted $7M but would have accepted $6M to stay but Stephen wouldn't budge coz in their mind, they had Joesph Randel. After he blew up in their face and Murray's one year with Eagles/ Chip Kelly failed, they were going to bring him back but the Titans jump in at the min offered him a better deal. All this happened from the end 2014 season to the beginning of the 2016 off-season........why drafting Zeke was critical to them.

Yeah, Joseph "meat on the bone" Randal.

Then we signed DMC who was good, but Zeke was a clear upgrade.

 

[AbeBeta]

Yeah, one wouldn't want to insult the overpaid declining commodity running back......I'm insulted the Cowboys selected him in the first round 4th overall in a league where Running backs have become less of a value position and then caved to his contract demands with a year left on his contract.....

If anyone should be holding out with a year left on their deal it is running backs. They need to get that second contact ASAP. Silly to begrudge a player their one really big payday.