After a year with the New England Patriots, running back Ezekiel Elliott is reuniting with the Dallas Cowboys, the team that drafted him and saw the first seven seasons of his career. Elliot reportedly signed a one-year $3 million deal with his old squad, which is currently pending and contingent on a physical.

Dallas leaned into Tony Pollard as their starter, which saw Elliott leave for New England in 2023, but now, with Pollard on the Titans, it leaves an open spot for the return of one of the most prolific rushers in Cowboys franchise history. Elliott had a career-low 642 yards and three rushing touchdowns in 2023, but in his seven years in Dallas, he became their third all-time leading rusher with 8,262 yards and 68 rushing touchdowns. He ran for 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns in four seasons and made the Pro Bowl in three. His 15 rushing touchdowns in his rookie season are also tied for the second most in NFL history, only behind Eric Dickerson‘s 18 touchdowns in 1983.

Dallas has Rico Dowdle and Duece Vaughn in its running back room, but after losing Pollard, it was almost necessary for them to find one in free agency or the draft. They didn’t pick up anyone in the draft, but landing Elliott on a much lower deal than in the past will be a major help in building up the rest of the team. Though his first stint with the team may not have ended the way Elliott wanted, he returns to the Cowboys as their cemented starting running back.

“We talked about this last night too,” Dallas owner Jerry Jones said Friday night. “Is Zeke someone of interest? Yeah, he is someone of interest. I saw him play his last games with New England. I thought he played well enough to be a starter.”

Elliott led the league in rushing from 2016-2018, but his numbers slowly dropped once Pollard joined the team. Despite his success, the team went with Pollard, and in his sole season as the Cowboys’ designated starter, he ran for 1,000 yards but scored only six touchdowns in 252 rushing attempts. Dallas finished with the 14th-best rushing offense in the league, but that number remained much higher with Elliott leading the attack.

The Cowboys made the playoffs four times with Elliott but could not make it out of the divisional round last year. They finished 2023 atop the NFC East with a 12-5 record but lost to Green Bay in the Wild Card Round, with Pollard only finishing with 56 rushing yards.

Now, going into 2024, reunited with their old running back and with quarterback Dak Prescott under contract until 2028, Dallas hopes to compete again for their first Super Bowl in almost 30 years.

A number of NFL teams are reportedly interested in signing free agent Ezekiel Eliott for the 2023 season. Elliott was released by the Dallas Cowboys Wednesday, but the star running back’s next team could be quick to take him off the market.

Of all the teams that could potentially benefit from signing Elliott, the Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo Bills have been pegged as the likeliest suitors. The Chargers will likely be in the market for a running back very soon, as star Austin Ekeler has requested a trade and would leave a gaping hole in the team’s offense. Elliott offers a very different skillset to Ekeler’s but has also worked well with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore in the past.

The Bills are another obvious candidate as the team looks for some way to overcome perennially stiff competition in the AFC this season. Josh Allen has proved to be a revelation for the team’s passing game and the defense is highly reputable, but running backs Devin Singletary and James Cook were somewhat underwhelming. Elliott could provide experience to Buffalo’s backfield and give the team another dimension on offense.

While Los Angeles and Buffalo are most likely to sit down with Elliott, there will certainly be other teams inquiring about the former Dallas power runner. The Kansas City Chiefs have taken chances on players like Elliott in the past and always seem to have cap space despite a prolifically talented offense. The Baltimore Ravens could also prove to be a fortuitous landing spot as well, though the team will likely have to sort out negotiations with Lamar Jackson before it can consider other major contracts.

The market for running backs is fairly small this offseason as most teams are either satisfied with their current system or would rather spend less on younger talent, as the Buccaneers did when they signed Chase Edmonds to a one-year deal Thursday. Elliott’s status next season also depends on how much he asks for, as his best seasons are behind him and a short-term deal would likely suit most teams best. For the right price, however, he could make a difference for a team in need of his services.

The 2020 season did not go as planned for the Dallas Cowboys. Starting quarterback Dak Prescott suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 5 that derailed the team’s playoff hopes. Dallas was somehow able to rally without their Pro Bowl quarterback to almost win the division. However, their dreams were crushed in Week 17 when they lost to the Giants. Washington’s Week 17 victory clinched the Football Team the NFC East title. Last year was the second year in a row that the Cowboys missed the playoffs.

Now that Prescott is getting healthy and will be ready for the upcoming season, Dallas is looking to bounce back and win the NFC East. The two-time Pro Bowler has already proved that he can lead Dallas on offense. In 2019, the Cowboys had the best offense in the league, leading the league in total yards and yards per game. They were second in the league in passing yards. The Cowboys will be looking to replicate that same offense with a fully healthy Prescott.

The Cowboys also made some notable offseason changes to the coaching staff. They fired defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. Nolan lasted only one season in Dallas, and under him, the Cowboys became one of the worst defensive teams in the league. Dan Quinn was brought in to replace Nolan. Quinn is known for being one of the engineers of the Seattle Seahawks‘ famed “Legion of Boom” defense. Quinn was the defensive coordinator during that era in Seattle and helped them become one of the best defensive teams in league history. The hiring of Quinn is a quintessential move made by the organization that will help improve the Cowboys’ defense.

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Dallas Cowboys Schedule:

• Week 1: Thu 09/09 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 
• Week 2: Sun 09/19 at Los Angeles Chargers
• Week 3: Mon 09/27 vs Philadelphia Eagles
• Week 4: Sun 10/03 vs Carolina Panthers
• Week 5: Sun 10/10 vs New York Giants
• Week 6: Sun 10/17 at New England Patriots
• Week 7: BYE
• Week 8: Sun 10/31 at Minnesota Vikings
• Week 9: Sun 11/07 vs Denver Broncos 
• Week 10: Sun 11/14 vs Atlanta Falcons
• Week 11: Sun 11/21 at Kansas City Chiefs
• Week 12: Thu 11/25 vs Las Vegas Raiders
• Week 13: Thu 12/02 at New Orleans Saints
• Week 14: Sun 12/12 at Washington Football Team
• Week 15: Sun 12/19 at New York Giants
• Week 16: Sun 12/26 vs Washington Football Team
• Week 17: Sun 1/02 vs Arizona Cardinals 
• Week 18: Sun 01/09 at Philadelphia Eagles

NFC East: The Cowboys play in the weakest division in the league. Dallas almost won the division last season, but Washington clinched in the final week of the season. Dallas, New York and Washington have the best chances to win the division this season. However, with the return of Prescott and the addition of Quinn as the new defensive coordinator, the Cowboys might be the favorites to win the division. Not only do they have the best quarterback in the NFC East, but they also have stud playmakers in Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb. The Cowboys are expected to have the most explosive offense in the division.

Matchups: The Cowboys begin their season facing the defending Super Bowl champions in Tampa. They then travel to Los Angeles to face off with explosive quarterback Justin Herbert. Their schedule then becomes more favorable, as they four very beatable teams before their Week 7 bye. The toughest games on their schedule are against the Bucs, Saints, Chiefs and Washington.

Overall: The Cowboys will begin their season with the return of their two-time Pro Bowl quarterback leading the offense. A healthy Prescott elevates the team’s offense exponentially. Plus, the addition of Quinn will strengthen their defense. Dallas is poised to make a run at the postseason.

Prediction: The Cowboys will finish with a 10-7 record.

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It is never too early to start looking at next year’s fantasy football draft. 2021 will be the year of the running back, as I anticipate the first six picks in nearly all formats to be running backs.

1. RB Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers

Although McCaffrey didn’t play in many games over the last couple of seasons, there is no denying his electrifying talent. If I were drafting first in 2021, I wouldn’t hesitate to select the best dual-threat running back in the league. In just three games this season, CMC averaged a ridiculous 30 fantasy points per game. If he had kept that up for the entire season, he would have been the top player in all of fantasy football.

2. RB Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

If you owned Kamara this past season, he likely led you to a dominant performance and a fantasy football championship. Although Kamara failed to rush for 1,000 yards, he did amass for 21 rushing and receiving touchdowns, good for first in the NFL. Six of those touchdowns came in championship week when Kamara broke out for 155 rushing yards and a whopping 53.2 fantasy points.

Although the potential departure of Drew Brees will hurt Kamara’s value, particularly in PPR leagues, he is still one of the best dual threat backs in the NFL and will be a top-two pick in all formats. Look for him to catch plenty of passes and finish second among running backs in receptions, behind the one and only McCaffrey.

3. RB Saquon Barkley, New York Giants

Barkley has missed lots of time in each of his past two seasons. Fantasy managers who drafted Barkley this past season got minimal production from him before he tore his ACL in Week 2. That being said, the early reports about his rehab have been nothing but positive and the timing of the injury suggests that he will be ready for Week 1 even though he didn’t undergo surgery until late-October.

As a rookie in 2018, Barkley led the NFL with 2,028 yards from scrimmage, hauled in 91 receptions (second among running backs), scored 15 combined touchdowns, and finished second in fantasy points scored in a full season and on a per-game basis.

Barkley shouldn’t have any issues in 2021 as the Giants’ offensive attack will again be centered around the young and flashy back. Not to mention, it won’t hurt that Daniel Jones will have another year of experience under his belt.

4. RB Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings

Cook finished as the second-best running back in fantasy football last season after producing 1,557 yards on 312 carries, 16 rushing touchdowns, 44 receptions for 361 receiving yards and an additional touchdown through the air. The former Florida State bruiser took a huge leap this season and as long as he can remain healthy in the future, he is a sure-fire RB1 in all fantasy formats.

The Vikings’ offense is extremely run-heavy, especially after the departure of Stefon Diggs. Although Minnesota still likes to give Kirk Cousins a chance to haul it down field to Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson, Cook will continue to see 20-plus touches per game. If he remains healthy, something he struggled to do in college, don’t be surprised if he sneaks atop the leaderboard.

5. RB Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys

Zeke did not look like himself as soon as Dak Prescott went down with a season-ending leg injury. If Prescott does not return to the Cowboys, Elliott will likely slip out of the first round and into the second. However, if Prescott does indeed return as Dallas’ signal caller – and i do believe that he will, Elliott will not be available after the first six picks of the draft.

6. RB Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans

Henry never ceases to amaze me. Yet again, the former Alabama running back bulldozed his way to over 2,000 rushing yards this past season, along with 17 rushing touchdowns. Henry’s one weakness is his ability to make plays in the passing game. Despite playing 16 games this past season, the All-Pro back caught just 19 passes for 114 yards. If Henry and Ryan Tanehill develop some chemistry on short and intermediate routes, Henry could move into the top three players in all of fantasy football.

7. WR Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers

It’s about time we get to the first wide receiver on this list. Adams missed a few games this season, yet still finished as the No. 1 WR in fantasy football. Aaron Rodgers’ favorite weapon finished the 2020 season with 115 receptions, 1,374 yards and 18 touchdowns. Adams averaged a mind blowing 25-plus fantasy points per game.

Although we should expect to see touchdown regression, the Packers lack solid pass catchers outside of Adams. Even when opposing defenses knew that Rodgers was going Adams’ way, cornerbacks and safeties simply had no way of stopping the electrifying plays that these two guys made, day in and day out. Expect more of the same in 2021, however, I do think Adams struggles to find the end zone quite as much as he did this past year, despite the fact that he seems to be impossible to stop in the red zone.

8. TE Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

Although Kelce is listed as a tight end, for fantasy purposes, he is just as good as the best receivers in the game. With Patrick Mahomes under center in that Chiefs’ aerial offensive attack, someone is going to get open on each and every play. It is simply impossible to stop a team with so many dynamic weapons, particularly when they have a quarterback as talented as Mahomes.

Although Darren Waller finished the season with two more receptions than Kelce, Kelce averaged 20.9 fantasy points per game compared to Waller’s 17.4. Along with his 105 catches, Kelce finished with 1,416 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.

Drafting Kelce in the late first round makes a ton of sense given the positional scarcity at tight end. There are only a handful of good tight ends in fantasy football, and none of them come close to Kelce’s level.

9. WR Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints

This one is a bit of a risk considering Thomas will need to develop a rapport with either Taysom Hill or Jameis Winston in the wake of Brees’ retirement. Fantasy owners were likely burned by Thomas this season, who did not score his first touchdown until the Saints’ Wild Card victory over the Chicago Bears.

Thomas is undergoing some offseason surgery and will be good to go by OTA’s next season. Forget about this past season and take a chance on the stud wideout next season. It won’t get any worse than it was this season.

10. WR Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs

Hill is one of the most fun players to watch in the NFL. Not only is he part of that electrifying offense in Kansas City, but he is also one of the fastest players in the league. There is a reason that his Twitter handle is @cheetah.

Last season, Hill finished as the second-best wide receiver in PPR fantasy leagues. Although he only accumulated 87 receptions, he made up for that by going for 1,399 combined receiving and rushing yards, plus 17 touchdowns.

In 2021, expect Hill to continue to get open with ease as opposing defenses are forced to respect Mahomes’ ability to toss it short to Kelce. Hill will build off this successful campaign and should be drafted at the end of the first round.

Stay tuned for more fantasy football content here at Usports.org.

After their loss on Sunday to the previously winless New York Jets, the Dallas Cowboys are seemingly victims of a downward spiral, dropping their last three games after starting the season 3-0.

With their high-powered offense featuring the backfield of Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys went on a tear to open the season, beating division-rival New York Giants and Washington Redskins, as well as the Miami Dolphins; in those three games they scored a combined 97 points.

The Jets, by contrast, have been abysmal in their first four games of the season, losing them all and giving up 101 points in the process. Entering Sunday’s game 0-4, the Jets shocked the football community by pulling off a 24-22 victory against the Cowboys.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

Although they are still tied with the Philadelphia Eagles for first place in the NFC East, many critics of the Cowboys and their head coach Jason Garrett have emerged recently. Even despite the recent losses, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones came to the defense of his head coach:

“If you really look at it, you can’t take one thing. It can be a list of 15 things, with some having more of an emphasis on maybe the player, the execution, mistakes, breaks — all of those kinds of things,” Jones said. “Across the board, we did not play well enough to win. Had we been able to tie this thing up, or win that thing at the end, it wouldn’t be because we played well. You guys would be writing about a team that did not play well that won a game. Instead, you’re writing about [what] usually happens to you when you don’t play well.

“Am I thinking that this is what we are going to be or what we can do with our 10 games that we have remaining, here we are leading the NFC East?” Jones continued. “Not at all.

“I want to look at the things that we’re doing right, and we’ll give a good look at making the adjustments or whatever the things that haven’t gone good here.”

Garret himself just wants to let the past be the past and focus on the Cowboys’ future. “Ultimately, everything that we want will be determined by what we do from this moment forward,” Garrett said. “We just have to get back to work [Monday], take it one day at a time and try to get better as a football team.”

The Cowboys will have the chance to get back on track when they host their division-rival and co-leader Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium next Monday.

After the Dallas Cowboys’ 12-10 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday — the team’s first loss of the year — Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was quick to pin the loss on himself and the rest of the offense.

“Our defense played their (butt) off,” Elliot told reporters following the loss. “They kept us in the game. They gave us a chance and we just didn’t hold up on the offensive end. We can’t let our guys down like that.”

Elliott managed a measly 35 yards on 18 carries on Sunday and even coughed up a fumble right before halftime.

“I just coughed it up,” he said. “They just took it from me. It’s not acceptable … I just can’t let the team down like that.”

The Cowboys’ offense managed just 257 total yards and featured a season-low passer rating from QB Dak Prescott.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

The Saints’ offense, on the other hand, was not much more successful, as New Orleans failed to score even one touchdown in the victory. The Cowboys’ defense has stood out on this young campaign and they certainly held down a Saints offense with multiple different weapons.

“The only positive is the defense played their tails off,” Elliott said. “Offensively, we just didn’t do our jobs.”

Though the Cowboys suffered their first loss of the year to drop to 3-1, they remain atop the NFC East thanks to their stalwart defense.

The Saints’ defense also deserves praise for shutting down a Dallas offense featuring Elliott and Prescott, who had looked promising up to this point in the season. Getting shut down by the Saints in primetime has certainly increased criticism of the previously undefeated Cowboys.

Conversely, Prescott explained that the team is taking the loss in stride and moving on:

“There’s no confidence lost with this loss,” Prescott said. “I can promise you that. There’s a lot of things we’ll take from this and learn from.”

The Cowboys’ offense will have to prove itself heading into Week five, especially if the defense continues to shut down opposing offenses.

The Ezekiel Elliott–Jerry Jones saga continues to unfold.

Now that Jadeveon Clowney ended up in Seattle, the last big holdover story of the offseason came to a close this week as Elliott signed a six-year, $100 million dollar contract on Wednesday.

Elliott’s agent stated that his client and the Dallas Cowboys were close to a suitable deal.

“I think Zeke is showing he’s committed by coming back to Dallas,” said Rocky Arceneaux, Elliott’s agent, “We didn’t come here not to do a deal. We’re talking. They’re committed and we’re committed. That’s why we are here.”

All smiles, Jones went on TV and poked fun at his signing by stating, “my pockets are now $100 million dollars lighter as of this morning.”

The rocky start to the negotiations between the Cowboys and Elliott stem from comments made back at the end of last NFL season, when Jones expressed his thoughts on the diminishing importance of a running back needed to win a Super Bowl.

Last month, Jones went on to joke with a reporter who asked him about negotiations with Elliott.

“Zeke who?” He joked. Apparently, Elliott and Arceneaux did not appreciate the joke.

IN MEMORIAM: SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019 TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Reportedly $50 million of his contract is guaranteed, and is the highest contract of any NFL running back, beating the Los Angeles Rams’ Todd Gurley‘s contract.

Elliott’s condition and fitness to play has yet to be announced, yet concerns have arisen since he hasn’t been at training camp. The season set to begin for the Cowboys on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. EST against the New York Giants. 

While dodging defenders across the gridiron every Sunday afternoon often comes with ease for him, off the field issue seem like the only thing Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott cannot to break tackles from, as the repercussions from an altercation involving Elliott at a music festival weeks ago now brings an unexpected blitz into the reigning running champ’s summer.

Although the event which lead to on–sight police detaining Elliott occurred over a month ago, it took until this week for Elliott to meet with NFL commissioner Rodger Goodell to discuss the situation. Elliott faces no criminal charges following the incident however, as the police quickly removed Elliott’s handcuffs and released him after deeming the situation negligible. Despite this, the NFL proceeded forward with their own individual investigation, which consequently lead to Elliott’s trip to Goodell’s office this Tuesday.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

After the meeting which involved Elliott himself, Goodell, and some Cowboys representatives, Elliott voiced his regret through Twitter while also noting his multiple failures to stay out of trouble and stating his plans to avoid further issues going forward.

Elliott endured a 6–game suspension during the 2017–18 NFL season after an ex–girlfriend momentarily filled a domestic assault charge against Elliott during the offseason, promoting an NFL investigation. Elliott’s multiple off the field issues unfortunately continues to cloud his abilities, as when not suspended from the league, Elliott takes the field as the NFL as a widely–believed top three running back joining other praised ball carriers such as Saquon Barkley and Todd Gurley.

Most surrounding Elliott and the NFL believed that the chances Elliott faces any suspension appeared highly unlikely, however a fine against the rusher remained a possible conclusion to the ordeal until Friday afternoon when the league released a statement announcing the NFL’s choice to dismiss the case and move on.

After now avoiding any discipline for his actions, Elliott sits ready to suit up for his first game next year against the New York Giants week one on September 8.

Ezekiel Elliott added another page to what seems to be a never-ending chapter of NFL players running into trouble with the law.

On Sunday at around 3:00 a.m. EST, Elliot found himself in handcuffs after attending the EDC music festival in Las Vegas with his girlfriend. This marks the second offseason in three years in which Elliot, 23, has generated headlines negatively reflecting his character, as in 2017 he served a six-game suspension after violating the league’s personal conduct policy due to allegations claiming the rushing champ physically abused his ex-girlfriend.

Just prior to Elliot’s run-in with authorities, Elliot was seen arguing with his girlfriend, while simultaneously blocking her with his body to stop her from walking away. After a security guard intervened Elliot shouted, “You got something to say?” directly in the guard’s face before knocking him down into the ground with his forearm. Elliot can be seen during the incident sporting a yellow Lakers jersey in a TMZ released video. The two-time Pro-Bowler was quickly handcuffed after the incident and moved away from the scene.

Much to the relief of Cowboys fans and fantasy football players across the country, Elliot won’t face any charges, as the security guard which Elliot forcefully introduced to the pavement neglected to press charges. Elliot’s lawyer Frank Salzano defended his client regarding the incident as he stated, “Security misconstrued and overreacted to the situation.” Salzano went on to confirm that an arrest was never made as he stated, “He was cuffed as a precautionary measure. He was released with no charges.”

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

Despite Elliot’s ability to avoid punishment on the law’s behalf, a decision from the NFL and Commissioner Rodger Goodell has yet to be made as to how they will move forward following the event. Elliot could miss games once again for the Cowboys this coming season, hurting both his bank account and team.

Despite the police’s disposal of the case, the NFL possesses the ability to deal out its own punishments, which we’ve seen it do despite an absence of lawful punishment. If suspended again, Elliot’s nonattendance could harm the Cowboys and their production this season. Elliot proved his vitality to his team last year as he led the league in carries, tallying up 304, which remains 16% more carries ahead of running–backs who carried the ball second-most behind Elliot. The star ball-carrier also found the end–zone six times, as he helped the Cowboys advance into the divisional round of the playoffs.

The Dallas Cowboys suffered a brutal 23-0 loss to the Colts in Indianapolis on Sunday, but Ezekiel Elliott seems to be looking at the bright side.

Cowboys’ Elliott Slams Team’s Performance In Colts shutout

The third-year running back said he believes his team desperately needed a “reality check,” and that the defeat to Indianapolis seems to have been one way to accomplish this.

“That was a very embarrassing performance by us,” Elliott said. “I think a loss like this was very much needed,” Elliott said. “I think it’s better for us in the grand scheme of the season. I think we needed to get put in check, I think we needed a reality check and I think we needed someone to remind us we still have a lot of ball left.”

“Nothing’s going to be given,” he added.

The Cowboys (8-6) still lead the NFC East, although they are now only slightly ahead of both the second-place Philadelphia Eagles (7-7) and the third-place Washington Redskins (7-7), which means the division’s wild-card playoff spot could become highly contested over the final two weeks of the regular season.

Dallas was missing a few players due to injury on Sunday, including all-pro right guard Zack Martin and left guard Xavier Su’a-Filo, who recently suffered an eye injury. However, Elliott seemed to dismiss the notion that this was the main reason for the Cowboys’ loss.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

On Sunday, Elliott finished with 87 yards on 18 carries, and also logged a team-high seven catches for 41 additional yards. Dallas amassed 292 yards of offense. A 48-yard field goal attempt by Brett Maher was blocked.

Elliott also fumbled the ball three yards from the end zone, and quarterback Dak Prescott threw an interception 26 yards from home. The Cowboys allowed 178 yards Sunday, 91 more than their average.

“The way we didn’t give ourselves a chance pisses me off,” Prescott said. “Pisses everybody off.”

The Dallas Cowboys (4-5)  are right back in this thing. After a powerful 27-20 win in Philadelphia, Dallas now holds the tiebreaker over the defending champion Eagles, also 4-5, and are just two games out of first place in the NFC East.

zeke, Cowboys Even Up With Eagles In Win On SNF

Running back Ezekiel Elliot had a riveting performance, strapping the ‘Boys to his back and soaring above football irrelevancy behind his 151 yards and two touchdowns. Surpassing the 150-yard mark for the fifth time in his three pro seasons, Elliot has become the only player in the league to have this distinction. He also tallied six catches for 36 receiving yards. The highlight of the night, a play that was representative of the Cowboys’ impressive Sunday night upset, Elliot thrust into the Philadelphia sky over cornerback Tre Sullivan for the first down and stumbled inside the ten-yard line for what would have been a score had he kept his balance.

The Cowboys failed, however, to convert that momentum into a score, settling for a field goal just before the half. Zeke’s trememndous feat set the tone for the rest of the game in spite of a fruitless first half, as Dallas unleashed the entire arsenal on Philly, even executing a fake punt on their own 31.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

“I think if we don’t take some of those risks,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said, “we don’t come out of here with a win.”

On the defensive side, the Cowboys bend-don’t-break effort yielded them a prosperous turnout, snagging a pick from quarterback Carson Wentz on the other side. Rookie corner Leighton Vander Esch did the honors, gauging the situation and dropped to the right angle for the pick, reading Wentz’s eyes and undercutting the throw on first down. Vander Esch accumulated 13 solo tackles (the most by a Cowboys defender this season), and one tackle for loss, solidifying himself as an unheralded steal of the 2018 Draft (he was taken at 19).

Elliot had his eyes set on the end-zone, but kept the playoffs in the forefront of his mind.”It was absolutely mandatory that we went and got the win if we wanted to keep our hopes up for winning the division and making the playoffs.”

To secure a chance of claiming the division, the Cowboys will likely need to win their games at home against Washington and the Eagles within the next month. They made that desire felt with their play, and the man of the night knew an A-1 effort was the only option.

After becoming the first team in NFL history to jump from the worst offense in the league to the best in just one season, the Los Angeles Rams have had a busy offseason, bringing in a host of new players including wide receiver Brandin Cooks, cornerback Marcus Peters, and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh in order to make themselves serious Super Bowl contenders in 2018. Now it appears they’re looking even farther into their future, as they are close to finalizing a contract extension with running back Todd Gurley.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the deal is $60 million over four years with $45 million guaranteed. Gurley was also given a signing bonus worth $20 million. With two years left on his current contract, the extension guarantees that Gurley will be with the Rams until 2023.

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Gurley’s contract extension extends farther than himself and the Rams, though, as it could set a new precedent for deals given to star running backs, especially when the likes of David Johnson and Ezekiel Elliott finish out their rookie contracts. However, the most pertinent NFL player on the periphery of this deal is Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell, who continues to express frustration with his current contract with Pittsburgh, a sentiment which he has echoed over the past couple of seasons. He wants a long term deal and a ton of money to go along with it, much like the one Gurley was just given by the Rams.

Bell took to Twitter to congratulate Gurley on his new deal, while also saying that his demands are not entirely farfetched.

NFL teams are typically hesitant to sign running backs to long term deals such as the ones they give to quarterbacks, as running backs take perhaps the most hits of anyone else on the field, and are thus heavily prone to both injury and fluctuating production.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

However, it looks as though Gurley will be worth every penny. He won NFL Rookie of the Year honors in 2015, and after a poor sophomore season (which one can attribute to just being in a terrible situation with both coaching and personnel), he had an MVP-caliber 2017-18 campaign in which he rushed for 1,305 yards and 13 touchdowns on 279 rushes (4.7 yards per carry). He also added 788 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns through the air on 64 catches.

Gurley is as valuable as any non-quarterback offensive player in the NFL and should continue to thrive under coach Sean McVay’s hyper-explosive offensive scheme. It will be very, very interesting to see how this influences running back contracts in the future.

Jerry Jones is set to pay back the NFL more than $2 million.

Jerry Jones NFL reimbursement news

Jones attended a meeting in front of Goodell and the league’s finance committee Monday in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The Cowboys did not comment on the decision.

Goodell and Jones have been embroiled in a heated feud in recent weeks over both cases. Jones criticized the commissioner’s decision to suspend second-year running back Elliott for six games over a 2016 domestic violence incident. The Cowboys owner said this was simply Goodell “overcorrecting” for past errors related to the NFL’s handling of previous cases similar to Elliott’s. Jones was also opposed to letting Goodell receive a contract extension and even reportedly hired a high-profile lawyer and threatened to sue Goodell.

Among other major NFL news revealed Wednesday was that the Los Angeles Rams traded linebacker Alec Ogletree and a 2019 seventh-round draft pick to the New York Giants for two 2018 draft picks. Also, the Seattle Seahawks traded Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Bennett to the Philadelphia Eagles for wide receiver Marcus Johnson. 

Trades can’t become official until the new league year begins on March 14.

Caption:TAMPA, FL – NOVEMBER 15: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones talks with fans during a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on November 15, 2015 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Roger Goodell announced Monday that he is demanding more than $2 million in payments from Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, and Jones is preparing to fight back against the NFL commissioner.

Roger Goodell vs. Jerry Jones feud news

The Washington Post’s Mark Maske and NFL.com’s Judy Battista both reported Tuesday that Jones is vying for a hearing with Goodell in the latest development of the escalating feud between the league’s two veteran executives.

The fees reportedly relate to Jones’ attempts to derail negotiations over Goodell’s contract renewal, as well as the Cowboys owner’s repeated defense of star running back Ezekiel Elliott, a second-year player who served a six-game suspension for a 2016 domestic violence incident.

The NFL has also allegedly been preparing for a potential lawsuit from Jones against not only the league but the group of team owners in charge of overseeing Goodell’s contract negotiations — the owners of the Chiefs, Patriots, Giants, Steelers, Falcons and Texans. The Cowboys owner reportedly went as far as to hire lawyer David Boies, who has previously represented other famous names like disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, however, refuted reports claiming Goodell was fining Jones with a demand for legal fees, and said the punishment was instead a “reimbursement of costs incurred by member clubs.”

In December, it was reported Goodell signed a five-year extension worth $4 million guaranteed annually with bonuses that could raise his total earnings to $200 million over the duration of the contract.

Jones was aware as early as August that only about 12 percent of Goodell’s compensation was guaranteed, and that the rest would be based on whether he and the NFL met some specific financial targets. Nevertheless, Jones continued to claim the commissioner was being overpaid and attempted to delay the talks.

As for Elliott’s case, the running back was never formally charged or arrested by prosecutors, although the NFL used statements from a former girlfriend of Elliott’s — along with photos of injuries he was accused of inflicting on her — to justify the suspension.

Jones lambasted Goodell for his handling of past similar NFL scandals involving players like Ray Rice accused of domestic violence, and said the six-game suspension handed down to Elliott without sufficient evidence of wrongdoing was simply an example of the commissioner “overcompensating” for his mishandling of those cases, where the player was not always punished immediately.

Caption:TAMPA, FL – NOVEMBER 15: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones talks with fans during a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on November 15, 2015 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Ezekiel Elliott returned to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday after completing his six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

Ezekiel Elliott suspension return news

However, coach Jason Garrett has admitted he is unsure how his team should use the second-year running back.

Garrett said his message to Elliott was to “get back to work” and that the 22-year-old “looked good.”

On Tuesday, Elliott and the full team will be together for the first time since the Cowboys — who are on a three-game winning streak — defeated the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 5. Dallas (8-6, second in NFC East) next hosts the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Elliott ran for 93 yards and a touchdown against Kansas City.

The Cowboys removed Elliott from the reserve/suspended list and cut running back Trey Williams to make room for Elliott on the active roster.

Garrett was not prepared to state with certainty on Monday in what capacity Dallas will utilize Elliott in their final two games.

“Just have to wait and see,” Garrett said. “Got to see how he is [Tuesday], got to see how he practices as the week goes on.”

In the first eight games of the season before his ban for domestic violence, Elliott put on an impressive run. He ran for 783 yards and seven touchdowns on 191 carries and had at least 93 yards rushing in each of his past four games.

Earlier this year, the Cowboys worked defensive tackle David Irving back into the lineup following a four-game suspension for violating the substance abuse policy. Defensive end Damontre Moore, currently a free agent, also returned from a two-game suspension.

Elliott — an Ohio State product who was the NFL’s rushing yards leader as a rookie in 2016 — reportedly spent his suspension training in Cabo, Mexico, and appears to have gained some muscle.

ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 26: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys runs for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the first half at AT&T Stadium on December 26, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Ezekiel Elliott seems to have surrendered in his fight against his suspension.

Ezekiel Elliott suspension news

The Dallas Cowboys running back announced Wednesday that he will withdraw his suspension appeal, which means he will serve the full six-game ban NFL commissioner Roger Goodell handed him last summer for his 2016 domestic violence incident.

Elliott, 22, will thus next play for Dallas on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) against the Seattle Seahawks. A hearing had been scheduled for Dec. 1 for a potential preliminary injunction.

In a statement on Wednesday, Elliott’s agents, Rocky Arceneaux and Frank Salzano, said: “In consultation with the NFLPA and his lawyers, and after careful deliberation and review of the recent Second Circuit decisions, Mr. Elliott has decided to forgo any further appeals and will serve the remaining suspension. This decision arises from a practical assessment of the current legal landscape. Mr. Elliott’s desire for closure in this matter is in his best interests, as well as the best interests of his teammates, family and friends.”

The statement continued: “This decision is in no way an admission of any wrongdoing, and Mr. Elliott is pleased that the legal fight mounted by him and his team resulted in the disclosure of many hidden truths regarding this matter, as well public exposure of the NFL’s mismanagement of its disciplinary process. Mr. Elliott will maximize this time away from the game and come back even stronger both on and off the field. He intends to release a final personal statement in the upcoming weeks and until then we have no further comment.”

Authorities in Ohio decided not to press charges against Elliott following the 13-month investigation into the July 2016 incident involving him and his ex-girlfriend Tiffany Thompson. 

The legal battle was waged in four courts in three different states.

During his suspension, Elliott will not be permitted to have any contact with the Cowboys’ coaches or front offices. Owner Jerry Jones said he is not concerned about the rusher being away from the team for so long.

In eight games thus far this season, he has 783 yards on 191 carries and seven rushing touchdowns.

ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 26: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys runs for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the first half at AT&T Stadium on December 26, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Jerry Jones seems prepared to retaliate against Roger Goodell for suspending Ezekiel Elliott by any means necessary.

Jerry Jones fued with Roger Goodell news

The Dallas Cowboys president is reportedly threatening to sue the NFL — and certain fellow team owners — over discussions to extend commissioner Roger Goodell’s contract.

Jones recently said Goodell’s six-game suspension of star running back Elliott — who was banned over a domestic violence incident — was an “overcorrection” on the part of the league’s commissioner for errors Godell has made in the past regarding other players’ misconduct. The Cowboys owner particularly mentioned Goodell’s handling of former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, who was also suspended by the team and even arrested in 2014 for assaulting his then-fiancee. Following his indefinite suspension from the NFL, Rice was reinstated after he successfully appealed the decision in federal courts. Rice had sued for $3.529 million in back pay that he would have earned for the final 15 weeks after serving the NFL’s 2-game suspension. A settlement between Rice and the Ravens was reached in January 2015.

Goodell has been in charge of the NFL since September 2006. His contract is set to expire at the end of the 2018 season.

The New York Times reported Thursday: “Jones said in a conference call last Thursday with the six owners — those of the Chiefs, Falcons, Giants, Patriots, Steelers and Texans — that legal papers were drawn up and would be served this Friday if the committee did not scrap or delay its current plans to extend Goodell’s contract.”

Reports also claim Jones has hired David Boies, the attorney who has been defending Harvey Weinstein against multiple sexual harassment claims. In a recent New Yorker piece, NBC anchor Ronan Farrow reported that Boies helped hire a private investigation firm to “attempt to uncover information that would stop the publication of a Times story about Weinstein’s abuses, while his firm was also representing the Times, including in a libel case.”

The Times has cut ties with the firm. Boies has also worked for the NFL, representing the league in federal court in 2011 following the players association’s decertification as a union.

Jones — who has led the Cowboys since 1989 — sued the NFL in the 1990s over sponsorships. His current threat recalls a process undertaken by Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis, who successfully sued the league in the 1980s to obtain the right to move his team to Los Angeles.

Jones has also been adamant about forcing players to stand for the national anthem, one of the few and most vocal NFL owners to do so in agreement with President Donald Trump’s stance. However, Jones previously supported the protests: the owner even kneeled beside his players before one game earlier this season. Trump praised Jones for changing his position on the issue.

Caption:TAMPA, FL – NOVEMBER 15: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones talks with fans during a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on November 15, 2015 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Jerry Jones believes Ezekiel Elliott’s six-game suspension is unfair, and believes the reason stems from a prior NFL scandal.

Ezekiel Elliott NFL Suspension News

The Dallas Cowboys owner said he thinks the second-year running back — whose request for a preliminary injunction was denied by a federal judge on Monday night — is paying for the errors NFL commissioner Roger Goodell made while handling Ray Rice’s domestic violence case in 2014.

As a result of Monday’s ruling, Elliott — who was also initially suspended for a 2016 domestic violence incident involving his ex-girlfriend — will not be allowed on the field again until Dec. 17 against the Oakland Raiders, pending a potential appeal.

“His swing of judgment has been unbelievable from the Ray Rice thing [from] one or two games all the way up to a six-game suspension when you truly have got a debate,” Jones said of Goodell. “Even this judge said it shows that very reasonably people could possibly come down on both sides of this. Well, under our legal system it has to be stronger than that for someone to have done it. Now, we all know we were not there to see it, but I do have every point of contention on both sides and in our system in this country, Zeke would not have any issue here as to his work place.

“With the knowledge that I have, the circumstances aren’t treating him fair. Two years ago this wouldn’t be an issue, before Ray Rice.”

Lead investigator Kia Roberts, who was the only person in the league to interview the alleged victim, said she did not believe Elliott should be disciplined. A video of Elliott’s incident with his girlfriend surfaced earlier this year.

Without Elliott — who has 690 yards on 164 carries and six touchdowns — Dallas will turn to Alfred Morris, Darren McFadden and Rod Smith.

Jones also clarified that he was in no way condoning domestic violence by defending Elliott.

“If we have a player or we have somebody guilty of domestic violence, they shouldn’t play,” Jones said. “But this isn’t the case. In our society [Elliott’s] not guilty of that.”

U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla — who denied Elliott’s injunction request — noted the lack of evidence of a “conspiracy” against the running back, which the NFL Players Association alleged in its initial filings —

ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 26: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys runs for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the first half at AT&T Stadium on December 26, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

A federal jude has rejected the NFL’s request for an expedited hearing on Ezekiel Elliott’s preliminary injunction of his six-game suspension.

Ezekiel Elliott Suspension News

Therefore, the Dallas Cowboys running back will be permitted to play against the Redskins in Washington on Sunday. New York district court judge Katherine Polk Failla ruled Monday that 22-year-old Elliott’s hearing will take place as originally scheduled on Oct. 30.

Commissioner Roger Goodell banned second-year rusher Elliott in August following a year-long investigation into his ex-girlfriend Tiffany Thompson’s domestic violence allegations. Elliott has not missed a single game this year.

NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart told reporters last week the league isn’t interested in reaching a settlement with Elliott and the NFL Players Association, the union.

“We’re not looking to make a deal,” Lockhart said. “We’re very confident our arguments will prevail in court.”

Elliott also told reporters last week it’s important for him to continue his legal fight.

“When you get accused of something of that magnitude, you kind of get labeled as an abuser,” Elliott said. “That’s just not me, that’s not how I want to be seen, not how I want to represent my family. It’s just important for me to fight.”

Goodell has the authority to deal punishment based on “conduct detrimental” to the league as mandated in Article 46 of the collective bargaining agreement.

Elliott — the 2016 NFL rushing yards leader — is coming off a career-high performance in Week 7 in which he posted 219 total yards (147 rushing, 72 receiving) with three touchdowns in the Cowboys’ (3-3, 3rd in NFC East) 40-10 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 26: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys runs for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the first half at AT&T Stadium on December 26, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

A federal appeals court on Thursday lifted a district court’s injunction that blocked a six-game ban for Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott.

Ezekiel Elliott Six-Game Suspension News

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court in New Orleans overturned a district court’s decision: the three-judge panel voted 2-1 to support the NFL’s argument.

The Cowboys have a bye this week.

However, the NFLPA is expected to re-file the case with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and seek a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction in order to keep Elliott playing, according to Gabe Feldman, director of the Tulane Sports Law Program.

“At the time the NFLPA filed the complaint, it was possible the arbitrator could have issued a final decision that was favorable to Elliott. Elliott cannot show it was futile to wait for a final decision simply because he believed the arbitrator would issue an unfavorable ruling. As there was no final decision, Elliott had not yet exhausted the contracted-for remedies.”

District Court Judge Amos Mazzant III issued the preliminary injunction last month after concurring with the Players’ Association that 22-year-old Elliott did not receive a fair suspension appeal hearing from arbitrator Harold Henderson, who was appointed by commissioner Roger Goodell. 

Goodell suspended Elliott following a year-long probe into domestic violence allegations made by his former girlfriend, Tiffany Thompson regarding an incident that transpired in July 2016.

Given the six-game suspension, Elliott — a second-year running back who set the league record for rushing yards as a rookie — would not be eligible to return until Week 13, when the Cowboys host the Washington Redskins.

ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 26: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys runs for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the first half at AT&T Stadium on December 26, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)