The contract holdout of running back Ezekiel Elliott has former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin fired up. The legendary pass-catcher recently told TMZ that owner Jerry Jones will not win a Super Bowl without Elliott.
Elliott is currently holding out for a new deal although he has two years left on his rookie contract. Jones and the Cowboys are holding firm to this point, while Elliott appears to be training in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Irvin has been particularly vocal on matters of Zeke and the Cowboys front office so his position is not a surprise. However, this rant was certainly attention-grabbing.
Michael Irvin Sounds off on Ezekiel Elliott
Irvin says in the video which TMZ Sports posted that Jones won’t drink the”sweet nectar of a championship” without Elliott.
“I know for a fact before Jerry Jones leaves time and go to eternity, he wants to drink the sweet nectar of a championship again. And, that nectar he will not partake in without Ezekiel Elliott!”
He wasn’t done there, either. Irvin continued to talk about the outlook of the Cowboys without Zeke in the immediate future.
“You may win games. You may sell tickets. And, you may make some money. But that nectar, you will not drink without Ezekiel Elliott!”
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Players Maximizing Deals
The argument Irvin makes is valid as star players make tremendous amounts of money for their respective franchises. It’s no secret that most current players have a finite window of playing time before hitting a decline. This issue dramatically increases with running backs.
“NFL has told all running backs over and over again, ‘We will squeeze you, we will use you, and we will discard you.’ So, now, he’s saying, let me get mine while I’m riding the wave hot.” Irvin stated.
The current holdouts of Elliott and Los Angeles Chargers Melvin Gordon are prime examples of agents and clients understanding how to maximize value during their NFL careers. In turn, the players are adapting and changing the trade market for future generations of running backs and other NFL players.
Ezekiel Elliott’s NFL Career
Elliott has rushed for over 4,000 yards in three seasons with the Cowboys. He started as a rookie season in 2016 and had 15 rushing touchdowns. Zeke was the NFL’s leading rusher in 2018 with 1,434 yards. He also scored nine total touchdowns with over 500 yards receiving.
He will surely continue as the focal point of the Cowboys offense. The offensive line is in better shape than last season and has developed some depth. The line should be back to full health by the start of the regular season.
Elliott has missed training camp and will miss the team’s first preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers. His absence has given many teammates chances to show their potential, including rookie Tony Pollard and even veteran Alfred Morris. Unfortunately, there is a significant decline in potential as neither player boasts anywhere close to the upside Elliott possesses.
As Irvin would say, the Cowboys need Zeke back on the field, sooner than later. Although he should be able to immediately sync back up with his offensive line and quarterback, it would be beneficial to knock off the rust off before the season starts.
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