FRISCO – It is, as always, a business.
So the Dallas Cowboys have granted a request from Ezekiel Elliott to cut him … leaving team owner Jerry Jones to bid the faded two-time NFL rushing king farewell. …
And leaving an opening on the roster.
“Out of respect and appreciation for Zeke and wanting to provide him with an opportunity to pursue any potential playoff participation possible, we are releasing him from the Cowboys roster today,” Jones said in a statement shortly after a team source informed CowboysCountry.com that Elliott had asked and been granted his freedom. “As I have said many times previously, Zeke’s impact as one of the greatest to ever play with the Star on their helmet will never change and is etched in our record books and history forever.
“We thank him, love him and wish him the absolute best.”
This ends Zeke’s second stint in Dallas – one that lasted 15 games and is not quite a match with the glory that he brought to “America’s Team” during the better part of the star’s earlier career.
So Zeke is out and a local guy is in
On Wednesday the Cowboys signed former Rams and Bucs defensive end Earnest Brown IV, who happens to be a product of Denton Ryan High School not far from The Star.
Brown was a fifth-round pick of LA in 2021.
Meanwhile … What is the point of Zeke’s request?
Pride is involved; In 2024 through his 15 games, Elliott totaled just 74 carries for 226 yards and three touchdowns for the Cowboys as Rico Dowdle eventually usurped him as the No. 1 back.
Additionally, it is fair to suggest that he might not be in the game plan for Sunday’s finale against visiting Washington as if Dallas plays to “play the kids” (tank?) … Elliott might’ve found himself a healthy scratch – an idea that came up earlier this year, much to Zeke’s disliking.
He will now be subject to waivers in the hopes of landing a job with a playoff contender for the remainder of the season; we now know than an arrangement has not already been made.
He will also try to recapture what he once was, starting in 2016 as a first-round rookie when he wasted little time in becoming one of the most productive backs of his era.
There is disgruntlement here. … along with the courtesy and the “love.”
At age 29, Zeke likely has little left in the tank. But he wasn’t going to help the Cowboys 7-9 this week. And he didn’t help much at all on the field.
Dallas knew the truth about Elliott’s diminishing talents a year ago when the club ate his money (part of his blockbuster 2019 six-year contract worth worth $90 million) and cut him.
He spent one year in New England before re-upping here in what was largely a feel-good move; best friend Dak Prescott sure endorsed it.
But by the time he was being accused of failing to focus on attending meetings on time, there was enough disharmony to envision an unhappy ending.
It’s over here. Maybe it’s over for good. So, to Zeke’s resume: Elliott was a three-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro who served as a productive and colorful and sometimes controversial figure here … and who over the course of the entirety of his nine-year career tallied over 9,000 rushing yards and 89 total TDs.
