The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly eyeing two veteran options to fill their running back void. One of them is quite the familiar face. The Cowboys are considering former Pro Bowlers Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook in free agency, according to the Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken.
Elliott is no stranger among Cowboys fans after having led the team in rushing yards from 2016 to 2021. He was usurped by Tony Pollard as the Cowboys’ top rusher in 2022.
Pollard then signed a long-term contract with the AFC team. Elliott found a temporary home with the New England Patriots last season. He played in all 17 games, rushing for 642 yards and three touchdowns on 184 carries. But the Patriots decided to make a young, risky bet this offseason at running back. Like Elliott, Cook also just completed a long-term contract with the Minnesota Vikings before the start of last season.
But Cook’s tenure became even more turbulent a year after Minneapolis. Cook started the 2023 season with the New York Jets. He finally got a date at the end of the year and joined the Baltimore Ravens for the postseason. In 15 games with the Jets, Cook gained 214 yards and no touchdowns on 67 carries. Cook appeared in only one postseason game with the Ravens, rushing for 23 yards on eight attempts.
Reporter offers surprising update on Dak Prescott contract situation
The Dallas Cowboys have made no secret of their desire to sign Dak Prescott to a contract extension this offseason, but it appears they are far from achieving that goal. NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that the Cowboys have not yet made a formal extension offer to Prescott. There is no sign that a deal will be reached. Owner Jerry Jones said Dallas is “full this year in lockdown.”
Prescott and the Cowboys recently agreed to a small restructuring that will lower the quarterback’s 2024 salary cap from nearly $60 million to $55.5 million. The new contract provides immediate relief for Dallas, but does not prevent them from negotiating a long-term extension with Prescott. There are now serious doubts as to whether a long-term deal will be agreed by the first week of next year. Prescott enters the final season of his four-year, $160 million contract in 2021. He probably had his best NFL season in 2023 with 4,516 yards, 36 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Many expected the Cowboys to be forced to extend Prescott given his play and cap size, but it appears the team intends to play him as long as the situation allows. Despite his MVP season, Prescott did not perform well in the Cowboys’ shocking loss at home to the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the playoffs. The result of this game led many to believe that head coach Mike McCarthy was on the radar. Jerry Jones said he also doesn’t mind the quarterback going into a lame duck season. A lot could change in five months, but things don’t seem right for Prescott and the Cowboys right now.
Jerry Jones’ bizarre notes during annual meeting go viral
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is known for his sometimes divisive statements on social media. On Sunday, Jones went viral without saying a word. Jones attended the league’s annual meeting this week at the Ritz-Carlton in Orlando, Florida.
The Cowboys’ general manager placed great emphasis on the team’s quarterback, Dak Prescott. He reiterated his belief that Prescott is one of the QBs who can win a Super Bowl. But looking beyond Jones’ usual front-office comments about Prescott, fans were more intrigued by Jones’ notes, or lack thereof, that were on his notepad when he said the quote. It seems like it is. X fans had fun at Jones’ expense. Considering the number of doodles on the pad, no one would believe that Jones was just checking to see if the pen was working.
According to a post by Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports, Jones’ graffiti appeared to be in addition to various points Jones had made about the Cowboys being “all in.” Mr. Epstein also admitted that there were several other sheets of paper that appeared to contain only incoherent scrawl without context.
The Cowboys have already drawn derision for their inactivity so far this offseason. Jones’ notes from the annual meeting will not help protect the team from criticism on social media.
