Cowboys Hope to Have Deal with Elliott Completed by Season Opener

The Executive Vice President of the Dallas Cowboys Stephen Jones said the team was confident it would have a deal in place with star running back Ezekiel Elliott. It will be signed prior to the season opener on September 8 against the New York Giants.

Jones said things happen quickly and sometimes in hours. However, he said he didn’t think the two sides were close because not a lot of activity is happening.

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For close to three weeks, Dallas has had an offer it sent to Elliott and the running back’s representatives that would make Elliott the NFL’s second highest paid back behind just the $14.375 million earned annually by Todd Gurley II of the Rams and ahead of the $13.375 earned by Le’Veon Bell with the Jets.

Earlier during the Cowboys training camp, the Cowboys’ Jones said Dallas was not going to be market setters for any contracts with Elliott, Amari Cooper or Dak Prescott.

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Elliott’s current training camp holdout is at 29 days. As a result, the running back has accrued fines of $1.12 million. He may have to pay back over $1 million of his signing bonus. Although, both penalties remain at the discretion of the team.

In three seasons in the NFL and including a six-game suspension to start the 2017 season, Elliott has rushed for 4,048 yards with 28 touchdowns and an average of 4.7 yards per carry and 135 receptions for 1,199 yards and six touchdowns.