Ezekiel Elliott fires back at critics regarding his contract

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott isn’t listening to any outside chatter regarding his contract. Elliott has received a lot of flack for his performance this past season and through the first two games of the season.

Backup running back Tony Pollard had nearly 40 more yards than Elliott in Week 2 despite three less carries. But the former Ohio State star isn’t phased.

“You hear it,” Elliott said. “But what really matters is what’s going on in this building. They’re not the ones signing the check. They’re not the ones sending the wires. So I don’t think it matters.”

Elliott is locked up in a six-year contract worth $90 million compared to Pollard’s four-year, $3.1 million deal. Historically, Elliott has been the better back, as he has three Pro Bowl appearances. But Pollard clearly outplayed him against the Chargers.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out as the rest of the season unfolds. Elliott clearly has talent and led the NFL in rushing during both 2016 and 2018. However, running back is an extremely physical position and perhaps he is beginning to see some of the affects of that wear and tear.

The Cowboys face NFC East rival Philadelphia at 8:15 p.m. ET on Monday. Can Ezekiel Elliott silence the questions about whether he deserves his contract and return to top form?

If he can, Dallas is quite possibly the most dangerous offense in the NFL. Without that level of production, however, it’s difficult to see Dallas going very far in the playoffs. With quarterback Dak Prescott out for the majority of the season with an ankle injury, they did not make the postseason in 2020.

Adding to the pressure, the Cowboys could be without star receiver Amari Cooper. He was limited in practice on Thursday and is considered questionable for Monday’s contest with the Eagles. Thankfully, they do return defensive lineman Randy Gregory after a one-week absence.