Ezekiel Elliott Gets Goodbyes From Dak Prescott & Troy Aikman - VIDEO; New Cowboys Rumor
The Dallas Cowboys' release of Ezekiel Elliott caused a pair of QB's to issue their goodbyes on Thursday ... despite a "see you in a minute'' sort of rumor ...
“It’s tough,” Dak Prescott said while attending an event with Troy Aikman to promote the Children’s Cancer Fund Light It Up Gala. “Playing the game with a brother, being able to start this NFL career, share so many memories and grow up as men, grow up as men with this organization.
"I really can’t imagine taking the field without him.”
Elliott and Prescott came to the Cowboys together via the 2016 NFL Draft and became best friends. And Aikman, after moving from his legendary Cowboys career and into broadcasting while still based in Dallas, was a keen observer of all of it.
“Those decisions, and Jerry (Jones, Cowboys owner) commented on it, it’s hard,'' Aikman said. “I’m a big fan of Zeke’s. And I think that regardless of whatever anyone’s opinion is of him as far as what he was able to do as a running back, I think they are going to really miss one of their real core players in that locker room.”
But ... what if it's not over? There is nobody attached to the Cowboys who is saying such a thing, but that's what Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports suggests, listing the Cowboys as a "potential landing spot" as the running back hits the free agency front for the first time. Kerr argues that, on the right, cheaper deal, Elliott could continue working with the Cowboys' offense in goal-to-go situations.
"Could the Cowboys actually bring Elliott back? They could at a restructured deal as a backup running back to Pollard, using him primarily in the red zone," Kerr writes. "Elliott has a lot more value in Dallas with a cheaper contract that isn't a significant cap hit."
To Kerr's point, Elliott was able to add to the Cowboys' scoring ledgers even as his production suffered to career-worst rates (i.e. 876 yards and a 3.8 average carry). While serving as a goal-line option hardly justified his $15 million yearly price tag, Elliott visited the end zone 12 times last year. It marked his fourth time scoring at least 10 touchdowns and every score came from no more than 14 yards out.
The problem with the thinking? If the Cowboys and Elliott were able to settle on a financial way to stay ... they would've already done that.
Instead, other teams are already expressing interest ... and Dak is going through an emotional change.
“I’m hurt, and I’m sure he is,” Prescott said. “But it’s more important, for me, just to be able to support him. I know he’s got more opportunities coming his way.”
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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