The Dallas Cowboys will begin their 2019 regular season in just five days with a divisional rivalry game against the New York Giants, and the team is still without superstar running back Ezekiel Elliott.
Late last week, a report emerged that contract talks between Elliott’s camp and the Cowboys were “intensifying,” but no deal was struck over the weekend. Depending on which report you believe, Elliott and the Cowboys were “very close” to terms as of September 1st, but “not close” on September 2nd.
On Tuesday morning, news broke that Elliott is returning to Dallas from Mexico, where he has been training during the Cowboys’ preseason. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that “some obstacles remain,” but with Elliott nearby, he’ll be able to report immediately should the two sides agree to a deal.
Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe said Tuesday that he was fairly confident – a 7 out of 10 – that Elliott would have a new deal by midnight on Tuesday, and that his extension would keep him in Dallas for the next seven years.
“I received some information that Zeke and his team are on their way back to Dallas…. I was told they’re heading back. I believe this is a effort of good faith.
…. I believe Zeke wants to show Jerry, ‘Jerry, I’m back.’ Zeke never wanted to miss time. Zeke wanted to have this done, but he told them in February ‘if you don’t give me a deal, I’m not coming to camp.’ They called his bluff.
…. I believe, in order to get what he wants, and to appease Jerry cap-wise, it’s going to have to be one of those longer-term deals. It’s going to have to be a five-year extension, plus the two years that he still has on the contract. So it’s going to be a seven-year deal. And I believe it’ll be a mega deal, one that’s going to shock a lot of people.”
