FRISCO, Texas – Back on April 29th, the Dallas Cowboys bought one of those eight-month term insurance policies that could bear interest when bringing back running back Ezekiel Elliott on a one-season, $2 million deal.
The intent was one of those just-in-case moves, realizing that in Year 9 after spending the 2023 season with New England they were not getting their 2016 first-round draft choice back in the fold. This was just insurance against not having drafted a running, not having spent big money in free agency to bring in a running back and having no idea if Rico Dowdle could stay healthy and become a dependable hand for the first time going into his fifth NFL season.
Well, Rico, the lead guy on the so-called running back by "committee," turned out to be the commissioner of that committee, now needing just one yard come Sunday in the final game of the regular season against Washington to rush for more franchise yards in a single season since Elliott did with 1,357 in 2019.
Zeke, at age 29, became the short-yardage back, at times coming in on the third-down offense as a trusted blocker. Zeke finished with 226 yards on 74 carries in 15 games, and actually leads the Cowboys with three rushing touchdowns, for 3 yards, 1 yard and 1 yard.
And with one meaningless game to play, as far as potentially finishing with a winning record now that they are 7-9 and already having been eliminated from the slim wildcard playoff possibility, the Cowboys did the future unrestricted free agent Zeke a huge solid.
They released him just before the 3 p.m. roster deadline on Tuesday, giving him the opportunity to potentially catch on with any one of the 14 playoff teams, either on the 53- man roster or the practice squad as once again an insurance policy against any of those teams suffering a running back injury.
And here is assuming his agent Rocky Arceneaux has done his reconnaissance work to judge potential interest and why they asked the Cowboys for his released.
The Cowboys complied, sort of a reward for Zeke being mostly a good soldier, other than that week when he decided he wasn't going to make the trip to Atlanta knowing the Cowboys were going to designate him as one of the gameday inactives. A nice thank you very much.
And as owner Jerry Jones said in a statement, "Zeke's impact as one of the greatest to ever play with the Star on their helmet will never change and is etched in our record books and history forever. We thank him, love him and wish him the absolute best."
Consider this term insurance expired.
Frivolous Shots: Hard to put much importance on football today after what took place in the wee hours of Wednesday in New Orleans with the CFP quarterfinal playoff game scheduled to be played in the Superdome tonight reminding us on this New Year's Day once again of too many old year's past tragedies, a man purposedly driving a truck through a French Quarter crowd, murdering now 15 people and injuring countless others. The Sugar Bowl game between Notre Dame and Georgia has been postponed until Thursday night and causing officials to lockdown the team hotels. Very sensitive to this horrific act as a frequent visitor to New Orleans and having a dad born and raised 30 miles up-river. Just sickening.
Not Saying: Yet, that is, head coach Mike McCarthy refusing to say if he will start now backup quarterback Trey Lance in the final game of the season. Now common sense would say Lance would get the start. Really nothing to lose since the Cowboys already are out of the playoffs and can't finish with a winning record, for whatever that's worth. Just give the kid a chance but remember he hasn't started a regular season NFL game since Sept. 18, 2022, the Niners playing Seattle when their second year first round draft choice suffered his season-ending ankle injury. McCarthy would only allow, "The reality of it is, we're going to work all the guys," including Cooper Rush and practice squad QB Will Grier, who very well could be elevated to gameday backup status. Who knows. But we should, soon.
Looking Forward: The Cowboys can't do much to change their 2024 season standing, a disappointing 7-9 and third place in the NFC East with the one game to go. So, with the exception of three games, they do know their 2025 season opponents. And you know what, the schedule does not become any easier with the so-called third-place schedule. In the NFL's predetermined schedule rotation, besides the usual NFC East home and away schedule with Philadelphia, Washington and the NY Giants, this coming season the Cowboys will play teams from the NFC North (Detroit, Minnesota, Green Bay, Chicago), AFC West (Kansas City, LA Chargers, Denver, Las Vegas) and with one game to play NFC West third place (today Arizona), NFC South (New Orleans today) and AFC East (NY Jets today). That means 10 of 17 games against teams with 2024 winning records and nine, possibly 10 games against 2024 playoff teams. As for where the games will be played, it's at home against Green Bay, Kansas City, L.A. Chargers and Minnesota, with the away games at Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas. Then it's at the NFC West third place team at home and third place teams from the NFC South at and AFC East on the road.
Special Unit: The Cowboys special teams have been really special. And think about this. Sure to be Pro Bowl kicker (we find out Thursday) Brandon Aubrey was found in the USFL. Sure to be Pro Bowl kick returner KaVontae Turpin was found in the USFL. Punter Brian Anger a 2012 third-round NFL pick signed as a free agent by the Cowboys. Deep snapper Trent Sieg, an undrafted free agent in 2018 signed by the Cowboys as a free agent. And special teams ace C.J. Goodwin, entering the league as an undraft4ed free agent the Cowboys initially signed in 2018 and has been here ever since. Plus consider, Turpin's 33.6 kickoff return average currently ranks second all-time in the NFL since the 1970 merger (Jim Duncan 35.4 in 1970). Then Aubrey, one field short of resetting the Cowboys single season franchise mark he owns at 37 and one 60-yard field goal shy of the NFL record three in one season. And remember Anger was a Pro Bowl punter last year. Sieg? Well, by my count, no bad snaps this season.
Could Have Been: Did you guys see how high off the right upright Aubrey's missed 61-yard field attempt in Philly bounced off? Was like at least three-quarters of the way up, still meaning he has 70-yard capability. And let's remember Aubrey also made 65 and 66 yarders that didn't count. And as special teams coach John Fassel reminds, "It's amazing to go back to where we were less than two years ago without a kicker, and we found one . . . I think he's the very best in the league which is crazy to say that just finishing his second year in the league. He's good, don't know how else to say it." Yeah, that about says it.
Not Saying II: This was not the first time and certainly will not be the last time owner Jerry Jones will be asked about his timeframe for deciding if head coach Mike McCarthy on the final year of his contract will be re-signed or if he will bring in a new head coach. Said Jerry on that topic, "I'm not under any unusual timeframe," then points out during his Tuesday weekly radio segment, "What I'm not going to do this morning is get into any indicator one way or the other that I'm not interest in having Mike back. I don't want that to be the case at all." So, stay tuned here, too.
New Year's Shorties: With Zeke not in the equation for the season finale and that Rico already has his 1,000-yard season, be interesting to see if second-year back Deuce Vaughn gets some carries against the Commanders . . . Washington still has something to play for, currently the seventh seed in the NFC at11-5, but could move up a notch to sixth if the Commanders beat the Cowboys and somehow the 11-5 Packers lose to Chicago . . . As it stands now, Washington would meet second seed Philly in the first round . . . Micah Parsons has eight career sacks against Washington, most he has against any opponent in his career, needing just a half sack to reach double-digit sacks and become the fourth NFL player to register at least 10 sacks since 1982 when sacks became an official NFL stat in each of his first four seasons.
And the final word on this New Year's Day goes to me after watching that first CFP quarterfinal playoff game between Texas and Arizona State in the Peach Bowl.
I want Cam Skattebo on my team. And since I'm doing the choosing, WR Matthew Golden, too.
Happy New Year!
