NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants

Cowboys

Regarding the recent video of the incident involving RB Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told reports that it won’t impact his status with the team. 

“The main thing is that I don’t see anything that needs supporting in terms of his status with us,” Jones said, per David Moore. “His status with us has not been impacted in any way. Frankly, I know how conscientious he’s been in the off-season and that’s good enough.”

• Jones said there’s “been some talk” between the Cowboys and Elliott’s representatives about a contract extension: “We talk contracts around here 100 percent of the time. We’re talking somebody’s contract all the time. … He would fall into that group.” (Jon Machota)
• The Cowboys have several players to address including Elliott, Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper and Byron Jones. However, Jones is confident that they’ll get these deals done: “You don’t know really where you are with any (contract) talk until you get it done. … We’re moving along satisfactorily with all of our contract negotiations. … I think that we’re going to get all of the contracts done.” (Jon Machota)

Eagles

Eagles QB Carson Wentz explained that he feels “very confident” in where he is in his return from a back injury, but he’s also focused on pacing himself better than he has in the past. 

“As a competitor, you want to take every rep, you want to do this, you want to do that,” Wentz said, via Reuben Frank of NBC Philadelphia. “But at the same time you just stay the course. I feel very confident where I’m at and I feel like I’ve learned a lot through these [injuries] to not be my worst enemy and listen to advice along the way. . . .

“It’s just kind of how I was wired and everything, being from North Dakota, smaller school and all those things. You want to work, work, work and push, push, push, and there are just times where you just need to tone it down a little bit. But it’s been a good process the last few years — unfortunately — going through this, but I feel good with where I am today.”

Giants

Giants HC Pat Shurmur explained that they’re looking to have better balance this year in terms of how much they use RB Saquan Barkley. 

“I don’t know about more,” Shurmur said, via Giants.com. “I think he had a big load a year ago, but it’s best if we can spread the ball around.”

“It certainly makes sense for us to hand him the ball and we certainly can throw it to him, as well,” Shurmur added. “And so he’ll be involved, for sure, and we try to watch it and see. I wouldn’t say manage it, but do what’s best because we have other good players that should touch the ball, as well.“