Latest On Cowboys & RB Ezekiel Elliott

Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports reports that the Cowboys and RB Ezekiel Elliott are not close in talks regarding a contract extension.

According to Robinson, the two parties are off on both average salary and guarantees at this point in time.

Multiple sources familiar with the talks tell Robinson that “the only game Elliott and the Cowboys will be playing together in the foreseeable future is this current matchup of chicken, with each side waiting for the other to waver under pressure generated in the upcoming preseason games.”

Robinson writes that how the Cowboys’ rushing attack performs during the preseason without Elliott will be a factor in contract talks and shift leverage to either party, depending on their performance.

For the time being, the Cowboys have been talking up rookie RB Tony Pollard, who could be in the mix to start, depending on whether Elliott’s holdout extends beyond the preseason. 

Earlier in the week, Josina Anderson reported that Elliott won’t play in 2019 unless the team signs him to a new deal. 

However, it’s believed that scenario won’t play out, as Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wants a new deal for Elliott before Week 1 as well. 

Elliott reportedly is angling to surpass Rams RB Todd Gurley as the NFL’s highest-paid running back. Gurley signed a four-year $57.5 million deal last August. 

Elliott, 24, was taken with the No. 4 overall pick by the Cowboys back in 2016. He signed four-year contract worth $24,956,342, which includes a signing bonus of $16,350,068.

Elliott will make a base salary of $3.85 million for the 2019 season and another $9.1 million in 2020 under the fifth-year option of his contract. 

In 2018, Elliott appeared in 15 games for the Cowboys and rushed for 1,434 yards on 304 carries (4.7 YPC) to go along with 77 receptions for 567 yards receiving and nine touchdowns.

We’ll have more regarding Elliott as the news is available.