Jones anticipating Zeke to overlook greater than opener

ARLINGTON, Texas — Dallas Cowboys proprietor and normal supervisor Jerry Jones says he believes Ezekiel Elliott might miss extra than simply the Sept. eight regular-season opener in opposition to the New York Giants in a contract dispute.

“I am working as if proper now he’ll miss regular-season video games,” Jones stated of the working again after the Cowboys concluded the preseason Thursday with a 17-15 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “My total expectation for what we’re placing collectively as a workforce proper now would anticipate with him holding out and never having any coaching camp that he’ll miss video games. I simply settle for that.”

The Cowboys and Elliott’s representatives have had talks in latest days however nothing seems imminent, in line with sources. Close to the beginning of coaching camp, the Cowboys made Elliott a suggestion that will make him the second-highest paid working again within the NFL behind Todd Gurley of the Los Angeles Rams.

Time, nevertheless, might be the most important impediment in getting Elliott’s deal performed for him to play not less than in opposition to the Giants. Jones stated he doesn’t have a deadline for getting a deal performed with Elliott or with quarterback Dak Prescott or receiver Amari Cooper.

“We’ll be needing Zeke,” Jones stated. “Anytime we are able to get him on the market, we’ll be needing him, so we do not have deadlines right here.”

Jones has not had any direct contact with Elliott and doesn’t imagine it’s a necessity to shut a deal.

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“Not on this case. Zeke is aware of full properly how beneficial he’s to our workforce,” Jones stated. “However he additionally is aware of as a result of there’s been a variety of video games when he did not play that he needs us to win if he isn’t enjoying. And we have got to be able to win if he isn’t enjoying.”

Elliott, 24, is going through fines of practically $1.5 million for lacking 37 days of coaching camp. The Cowboys might additionally search compensation of $1.02 million in a prorated portion of his signing bonus. As soon as the regular-season work schedule begins, he would face day by day fines of barely lower than the $40,000 he confronted whereas in coaching camp. He will probably be out greater than $226,000 in recreation checks for every week he misses.

Emmitt Smith, the NFL’s all-time main rusher, stated he doesn’t begrudge Elliott taking this route.

“If he would not do it now when the league is speaking about devaluing the working again place, and he is confirmed he can carry the ball 350-plus occasions on a constant foundation, there aren’t many backs within the Nationwide Soccer League that may try this,” Smith stated on KRLD-FM 105.three The Fan in Dallas earlier than the sport. “We have now one on our workforce and there is one other one up in New York (Saquon Barkley) and you would be hard-pressed to seek out another person. When you will have these caliber of backs in your squad, they’re distinctive people. … He deserves to be paid like that.”

In 1993, Smith missed the primary two video games of the season, each Dallas losses, in a contract dispute. 4 days after the Cowboys misplaced their second straight with out Smith, he signed four-year, $13.6 million deal that made him the highest-paid working again within the NFL.

“My contract was fully up,” Smith stated. “It isn’t like I broke my contract or tried to get extra capital. I did what I advised them I used to be going to do once I got here in: I used to be going to earn the appropriate to get in place to be paid like the very best paid within the league.”

Elliott has led the NFL in speeding in two of his first three seasons, together with 1,434 yards final season. He missed six video games in 2017 due to a suspension however nonetheless managed 983 speeding yards.

Jones says his expectations for 2019 is not going to change if Elliott misses regular-season video games.

“He cannot and will not miss all of them,” Jones stated. “We want Zeke. We’re a greater workforce with Zeke, however we want to have the ability to win when we have to with out gamers due to accidents, suspension or on this case, holdout. However as I’ve stated, this can be a marathon.”