The Dallas Cowboys can’t move microscope from Ezekiel Elliott

No matter how hard the Dallas Cowboys try to dodge the Ezekiel Elliott absence, the truth is Zeke is a commanding power in Big D. Nobody is winning. Nobody.

You can run, but you can’t hide. With training camp in full swing, the mega hole on the depth chart is causing a ripple effect across the Dallas Cowboys. America’s Team and the surrounding staff can pivot and parry punches all they want about contract updates, but eventually, those punches will land.

And, of course, Ezekiel Elliott is betting his young career on it. You see, the Dallas Cowboys being headline thieves they are, were already a spotlight team for the league and marketers. Add the fact that this team is a Super Bowl contending team makes the recipe a little spicier.

Zeke knows this. Fans know this. The marketing genius, Jerry Jones, owner and general manager of the most valuable sports franchise, according to Forbes, knows this better than anyone. But this instance, this extra credit in the attention department isn’t one that favors Dallas.

First, the Dallas Cowboys have to be a little jittery and surprised by the running back’s choice. Elliott, who turned 24 eight days ago, has two years left on his rookie deal. He is set to earn nearly $4 million this year and just over $9 million next season.

Let’s not get the current NFL landscape twisted with Zeke’s ability. Let me make this clear. Number 21 deserves a handsome dollar. He will get that mega-contract and no matter how many punches and kicks you shoot my way, I will always, always, be on the record for saying that Elliott deserves every single dollar the Cowboys pay him.

What I don’t agree with is Elliott’s timing. To be truthful, I hate it. First, the extra attention amps up the microscope on Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper, who are also looking at new deals.

Second, the entire organization has to play Mr. PR when the microphone is shoved in their face, saying the right things while not focusing on what matters most right now — their play on the field.

Finally, and maybe most importantly, nobody wins during this pointless standoff. The Dallas Cowboys are without their most talented player and the NFL’s best running back. In fact, you could even argue that Ezekiel Elliott is, right now, the most talented player in the NFL and is someone who will get MVP looks from this day forward.

And while Elliott decides to camp out in Frisco, Texas on his own clock while his co-workers are busy in Oxnard, California, we have to bring up the case of injury. The more days he misses with the organization, the greater the risk of hurt to his body.

Sure, he’s young. I get it. He’s a professional who probably has professional assistance around him. But missing time away from real football won’t do any player any favors.

Le’Veon Bell tested the limits with his employers, the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the end, you could argue that Bell lost the battle but didn’t this hurt his employer just as much? His organization spent hefty resources on him, only to see him sit on a shelf collecting human dust. The football life isn’t a long one.

The Jones family might have reminders of the Emmitt Smith deal back in 1994. But there are key differences. Number 22 won a title. He had reasonable clout. And when the Cowboys began that season 0-2, he came back to prove he was worth every single dollar Jerry Jones paid him.

I am not saying Zeke doesn’t belong to the greatness fabric. Honestly, I believe Elliott is toe to toe a better player than Smith and his future career will prove it. But the timing and choice of this matter spell out false start.

And with all penalties, the camera follows the foul doer but it’s the whole team that gets backed up because of the infraction. Nobody is winning in this standoff. And nobody will. The Dallas Cowboys started the season 0-1, and we’re still in the month of July.