Ezekiel Elliott is 'ready' and 'close': 4 facts as Cowboys contracts talks likely near end
FRISCO - Ezekiel Elliott was asked, “Are you ready?” by reporters after the Dallas Cowboys holdout star landed at DFW Airport on Tuesday.
“I’ve been ready,” Zeke answered.
Meanwhile, Elliott agent Rocky Arceneaux was also fielding questions upon the running back’s arrival from Cabo.
Is he ready to sign? Is he close to signing?
"I think Zeke showed his commitment by coming back to Dallas,” the agent said. “We didn't come here not to do a deal. So I think he's committed. Both sides are."
And thus begins what figures to be the final round of high-profile negotiations between this Super Bowl contender and arguably its best player ... and hopefully the final round of jousting among media members who at different levels have genuine information vs. “borrowed” information vs fake information. ... all happening as we, collectively, haven’t even been able to agree how close “close” is.
*Fact: the two sides were at the lip of the cup of a deal on Saturday night before a Sunday “monkey wrench” slowed a process that is about to make Zeke one of the two highest-paid running backs in NFL history.
*Fact: Zeke’s travels haven’t always been an accurate gauge of negotiation heat. But it’ll will be eventually revealed that he zipped back and forth from Cabo to DFW more frequently than most know ... at least once due to the “closeness” of a deal.
*Fact: I’ve mentioned COO Stephen Jones’ “lieutenants” before and they are very much in play as we approach Stephen’s “Midnight Hour.” Trust me. I know them. They understand contracts, the cap, and Jerry Jones’ much-ballyhooed “pie.”
*Fact: While it seems a foregone conclusion that Elliott will play in Sunday’s opener against the Giants, there are some staffers who are whispering caution.
Let’s get him on the practice field. Let’s get him a physical. Oh yeah, and let’s get him signed.
As I write this, none of those things have been accomplished. But they are - to use a word near the center of the Ezekiel Elliott contract dispute - inarguably “close.”
