The Dallas Cowboys are set to release Ezekiel Elliott as a post-June 1 cut. The running back dominated early in his career, earning himself a huge contract in 2019.
Former NFL scout Bryan Broaddus of the Audacy Original Podcast “Love of the Star” explained how Elliott saved the Cowboys, specifically Dak Prescott, early in his career and ultimately suffered for it.
“He saved Dak Prescott’s first two years in the NFL. He really did,” Broaddus said (4:07 in player above). “When you look at his rookie year, year after, Ezekiel Elliott was playing at a very high level for several years. It took a lot of pressure off Dak Prescott. Dak Prescott didn’t have to be the entire offense his rookie year. We’ve seen so many rookie quarterbacks get thrown in that situation and just drowned.”
The duo of Prescott and Elliott led the Cowboys to a 13-3 record in 2016. The running back carried the ball a league-high 322 times (23 more than the second-most) for 1,631 yards but the quarterback got the glory of the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. He also had 32 catches for a total of over 350 touches.
Elliott only played in 10 games in the 2017 season but still carried the ball 242 times. Things really ramped up in 2018, however, with 304 carriers and a career-high 77 receptions.
Those early years earned Elliott a huge contract extension after holding out in 2019 but it ultimately may have cost him in the end. Broaddus certainly thinks so, at least.
“I think Ezekiel Elliott, he suffered for it. He suffered for it for the number of carries he got. He suffered because he wouldn’t miss games. He suffered because he played through injury,” he said. “So say what you want about Ezekiel Elliott, I feel like the money he got is the money he earned for what he did. Now, was it at the time too much? No, not then. But now, yeah it is.”
The Cowboys’ star running back may go out of town leaving a bad taste in people’s mouths due to his contract, but that shouldn’t be held against him.
“Whether you like Ezekiel Elliott or not, and if one of the reasons why you don’t like him is because you felt like he made too much money for the position and how he played, that’s not his fault,” Broaddus said. “The front office are the ones that paid him the money.”
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