2023 Random Cowboys Stuff Thread

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ESPN predicts running back Ezekiel Elliott will re-sign with Dallas Cowboys for 2023

ESPN predicts running back Ezekiel Elliott will re-sign with Dallas Cowboys for 2023
Story by Nikki Chavanelle, Outsider • 5h ago

Two months following his release from the Dallas Cowboys, running back Ezekiel Elliott is still on the open market. His availability led ESPN reporter Bill Barnwell to make a bold prediction about where the former league-leading rusher will land for 2023.

Instead of finding a new home, Barnwell predicted that Elliott will return to the Cowboys. However, he’ll do it for significantly less money.

“For a Cowboys team that already had plenty of hesitation about featuring (Tony) Pollard for more than 30 snaps per game, bringing back Elliott on a cheaper deal would provide security at one of the team’s thinnest positions,” Barnwell wrote. “Pollard is still recovering from the fractured left fibula he suffered during the postseason, so if the Cowboys don’t want to rush him back into the lineup in September, Elliott’s ability to pass protect and run effectively between the tackles would be a plus for coach Mike McCarthy.

“If Elliott — who ran for 876 yards and 12 TDs last season — is not going to land a deal for more than $5 million somewhere else, why not stay home in Dallas?”

The Cowboys released Elliott this offseason after seven seasons with the team. The former Ohio State star led the Dallas rushing attack in every season that he played except in 2022. Pollard overtook Elliott and posted his first 1,000-yard rushing season, earning his first Pro Bowl nod as well.

Elliott linked to Buccaneers
Dallas is forging ahead with Tony Pollard after placing the 2023 franchise tag on the former Memphis standout. However, it seems there’s still a path back to AT&T Stadium for Elliott at this point.

They didn’t draft a running back high, instead landing on Deuce Vaughn from Kansas State in the sixth round. Even with the addition of Ronald Jones, if Pollard’s recovery progress doesn’t look good this offseason, it would make sense for the Cowboys to add Elliott back to the mix.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported last week that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could potentially sign Elliott as a No. 2 running back to pair with Rachaad White.

However, Fowler also shared that Elliott making a return to the Cowboys instead of signing with a new team is “still an option.” Team owner Jerry Jones made it clear this offseason that the team hasn’t fully closed the door on the possibility. He also said he didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up.

As a free agent, Elliott is free to sign with a new team at any time. With team OTAs beginning in a week, it would be ideal for him to sign within the next few days.

In 2022, Elliott was playing on his six-year, $90 million deal that he signed in September of 2019. At the time, it was the largest deal signed by a running back.
 
Irving Cowboy said:
“If Elliott — who ran for 876 yards and 12 TDs last season — is not going to land a deal for more than $5 million somewhere else, why not stay home in Dallas?”
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Because we don't want him?
 
ravidubey said:
We are wasting this kid. He’s like one in a lifetime, early days JJ Watt
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How exactly are we wasting him?

We've done everything to keep both the defensive staff that's cultivated him as well as the supporting cast he's played with the last two years while taking the exact type of DT you've been bitching about us missing forever, and in the first round for the first time in 30+ years at that.

On top of that we have a deep group of complementary edge rushers who can let him rest, although the coaches need to be more firm about him wanting to stay in late in games when we're up big in an attempt to stat pad.

Short of having a genie drop an Aaron Donald or Quinnen Williams in our laps I'd say we've done everything we can to support him.
 
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Simpleton said:
How exactly are we wasting him?

We've done everything to keep both the defensive staff that's cultivated him as well as the supporting cast he's played with the last two years while taking the exact type of DT you've been bitching about us missing forever, and in the first round for the first time in 30+ years at that.

On top of that we have a deep group of complementary edge rushers who can let him rest, although the coaches need to be more firm about him wanting to stay in late in games when we're up big in an attempt to stat pad.

Short of having a genie drop an Aaron Donald or Quinnen Williams in our laps I'd say we've done everything we can to support him.
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He has been working out with Andrew Whitworth during the offseason getting tips on why the OTs do what they do.
 
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Rev said:
He has been working out with Andrew Whitworth during the offseason getting tips on why the OTs do what they do.
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Yea he's going to continue to be a monster and we have all the infrastructure in place to support him from the coaches to the defensive depth chart.

They just have to stop letting him force his way onto the field for unnecessary snaps when we're up by 14 with 4 minutes left in the 4th.
 
Simpleton said:
They just have to stop letting him force his way onto the field for unnecessary snaps when we're up by 14 with 4 minutes left in the 4th.
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This is huge. He's a Ferrari, and we can't afford to put miles on him without getting a championship in return.

The Mazi Smith pick was a year overdue. Frankly even with the defensive additions someone, anyone has to fricking step up and take ownership on that side of the ball besides Parsons or Kearse. Demarcus Lawrence needs to stand up and play like it's his last season, and this has to be the year Diggs puts it all together and tightens up coverage while still getting interceptions.

And trade for a disgruntled starter out there on either offense or defense, anything to give Micah help.
 
ravidubey said:
This is huge. He's a Ferrari, and we can't afford to put miles on him without getting a championship in return.

The Mazi Smith pick was a year overdue. Frankly even with the defensive additions someone, anyone has to fricking step up and take ownership on that side of the ball besides Parsons or Kearse. Demarcus Lawrence needs to stand up and play like it's his last season, and this has to be the year Diggs puts it all together and tightens up coverage while still getting interceptions.

And trade for a disgruntled starter out there on either offense or defense, anything to give Micah help.
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I agree to some extent but I'm not sure what you want exactly. We had one of the best defenses in the league last year, they showed up big time in both playoff games, we brought back everybody and added Gilmore via trade and Mazi in the first. There are no clear holes on the roster and we go 2-3 deep with guys who I'd feel comfortable starting for a few games at multiple positions.

I think Lawrence was very good last year, he didn't have huge sack numbers but he was awesome against the run and got consistent pressure. I also think Sam Williams could be huge this year in terms of being the "Robin" to Parsons' Batman as explosive edge rushing threats.
 
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