NFC East Notes: Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys, Eagles

Ezekiel Elliott

• While Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott has to report to camp by August 6 to accrue a year on his contract toward free agency, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio says that deadline shouldn’t necessarily matter. 
• Florio says Elliott is trying to leverage a new deal, not access to free agency, so his threat of holding out his services for a team with Super Bowl aspirations carries more weight. 
• Elliott is under team control for two more years including the fifth-year option, likely three once the franchise tag is factored in. So losing a year toward free agency doesn’t make a huge difference in his situation. 
• Most recently, Rams DT Aaron Donald held out beyond the deadline and forfeited a year toward free agency. He ended up signing a deal with Los Angeles that made him the NFL’s highest-paid defensive tackle.
• Las Vegas police are investigating Elliott for the incident with a security guard at a music festival where Elliott is seen on video pushing the guard. The NFL has already decided not to suspend Elliott. (TMZ)

Cowboys

Cowboys backup QB Cooper Rush said he’s looking forward to the competition with QB Mike White for the Cowboys’ No. 2 quarterback position. Rush won the job ahead of White last season during the latter’s rookie year. 

“It’s the NFL. Every day there’s competition,” Rush said via Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams. “There’s someone out there trying to compete with you for your job. That’s the nature of the position of quarterback. That’s how it’s always been. That’s how it’s always going to be. Mike’s a great guy, fun to work with. We’re pretty good buddies, and we both love to compete and really looking forward to this preseason.”

Eagles

• According to NJ.com’s Mike Kaye, Eagles DEs Joe Ostman and Daeshon Hall are long shots to make the final roster despite showing flashes last season and this spring. 
• The two would need either an injury or to outplay one of Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett, Vinny Curry, Josh Sweat or fourth-round rookie Shareef Miller to secure a spot on the roster. 
• Eagles WR Nelson Agholor is one of a few different NFL wide receivers working out with future Hall-of-Fame WR Randy Moss this offseason. (John Clark)