Mike Florio outlines why the Cowboys are stuck with Ezekiel Elliott despite wanting to move on from star RB

There used to be a time when Ezekiel Elliott needed feeding on a regular basis. He would have his way with defensive linemen, and it was an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Oh, how times have changed since those days of 2019. Elliott has been on a lower calorie diet since then, and though his quarterback Dak Prescott keeps trying to feed him, Elliott is not that hungry anymore.

While his stomach may be empty, his pockets are still full of Jerry Jones' money, thanks to the $90 million, six-year contract he was given in 2019. This, of course, was back when owners and general managers still thought running backs mattered.

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio is one of many who thinks the Dallas Cowboys should move on from Elliott, especially since they already have a new and improved option in the form of Tony Pollard.

"Hey, look, here's the bottom line," Florio said. "Tony Pollard's a better running back right now. Ezekiel Elliott is showing the signs of the wear and tear of six years in the NFL. That's just the reality. And the only reason he's on the team now is because his contract was negotiated to make his payments fully guaranteed a year in advance."

Florio continued:

"His spot on this year's roster was set when he wasn't cut before the middle of March last year, and he was going to be cut before the middle of March last year because his contract for last year was already guaranteed. That's the difference you build into the early years of the contract, especially for a running back."

Ezekiel Elliott versus Tony Pollard: Who should be the Cowboys’ lead back?

The Elliott vs Pollard debate has become an almost annual event. Each year, the Cowboys go with Elliott, because when you pay a running back $90 million you have to try to justify it somehow.

In terms of yards per carry, Elliott has gone from 4.7 in 2019 to 4.2 in 2021. This may not seem like much, and based on running backs with over 100 carries last season, he ranked a disappointing 25th in the league.

Pollard, on the other hand, was ranked second overall with 5.5 yards per carry, in line with Nick Chubb, Miles Sanders and Jonathan Taylor, albeit on fewer carries. Pollard was also a greater threat as a receiver, recording 39 catches from 46 targets for 337 yards. In comparison, Elliott made 47 grabs on 65 targets for 287 yards.

Where Elliott excels is in the redzone, where he has 12 total touchdowns to Pollard's two. Those stats would lean towards Pollard as the lead back, and Elliott as a third down and short yardage option, but you don't pay $90 million for a RB #2