The Ezekiel Elliott holdout seems to be an a stalemate according to sources close to Jane Slater of the NFL Network.
Elliott is reportedly looking for a market-setting contract that would pay him more than the $57.5 Million over four years that the highest paid running back in the league, Todd Gurley currently makes. So far though, comments have been made from the Cowboys’ brass that don’t sound too encouraging for that to occur without more consternation and hand-wringing.
Cowboys VP Stephen Jones spoke to 1310 The Ticket in Dallas and seemed to be taking an elitist attitude toward the team pushing salaries up even more than what the Los Angeles Rams did when they made money rain down on Gurley.
“We can’t push the issue unless we want to be a market-setter. And we’re damn sure not going to be a market-setter,” said Jones.
When discussing the status of contract negotiations, a source reportedly told Slater that the two sides aren’t close. When pressed on what the sticking point was, the response was “everything.”
That certainly doesn’t sound like two-sides that are playing nice in the sand box despite earlier reports, and one has to wonder how much longer this will drag out. This much is clear — one side (or both) — will have to blink and give up something in order for this all to be put behind America’s Team.
For the time being though, Elliott isn’t in America with his team, but remains in Cabo, Mexico while the rest of them go through training camp in Oxnard, CA.
