One decision made by the Dallas Cowboys this season has caused more division among the fan base than any other out of all the movements, um, non-moves.
On the first day of free agency, the Cowboys are renowned for being the only NFL team to forgo signing an outside free agent. Although it’s a humiliating distinction, the front office is proud of it.
The Cowboys gave priority to “their guys” over outside free agents before searching outside the building for assistance.
CB Jourdan Lewis, RB Rico Dowdle, LS Trent Sieg, OT Chuma Edoga, and ST star C.J. Goodwin are among the players returning. In 2023, the addition that divided the fan base wasn’t even involved with Dallas.
The reason for the division among fans is that the Cowboys entered the free agent running back market a second time, bringing back fan favourite Ezekiel Elliott, after signing veteran free agent Royce Freeman to a one-year contract.
Elliott has a rare chance in today’s game to pull off an absolutely amazing feat. Zeke now has 68 rushing touchdowns, which puts him third all-time on the Cowboys all-time list.
Two running backs who are inducted into both the NFL Hall of Fame and the Cowboys Ring of Honour stand in front of him. With 153 running touchdowns, Emmitt Smith set a record that is unlikely to be surpassed.
On that all-time list, though, Elliott is about to pass another running back. With 72 running touchdowns, Tony Dorsett—arguably the greatest #33 in Cowboys history—is presently ranked second in team history.
How Did Zeke Get Here?
The Cowboys selected Ohio State University’s Ezekiel Elliott with the fourth overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
In today’s game, drafting a running back with a top-five pick is unheard of. Elliott may be among the final candidates chosen with such high priority, as the position has lost significance.
His draft position was more than justified by his impact on the club. Even in his third game of the season, Elliott was already a huge star.
Elliott burst into action following two boring rushing efforts against the New York Giants and Washington Redskins, where he averaged just 3.25 yards per carry.
Elliott’s breakthrough performance came in Week 3 against the Chicago Bears. After gaining 140 yards through rushes on just 30 carries, he went on to have four straight games with 100 yards or more.
Along with fellow rookie quarterback and closest friend Dak Prescott, Elliott enjoyed an incredible first season and brought much-needed youth into the Cowboys organisation.
Zeke would finish with 30 career 100-yard games with the Cowboys, but none beyond Week 5 of 2021. Elliott would also achieve the feat in back-to-back games for the first time since 2019.
On his back with the clock on zeroes at Levi’s Stadium during a Divisional round playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers, his (first) Cowboys career would end in disgrace.
He was later cut for salary cap relief after June 1st and signed a one-year contract with the New England Patriots.
During his debut season with Dallas, he only managed 8,262 yards of rushing, 2,336 yards of receiving on 305 passes, and 80 touchdowns overall.
He’s Not Too Far Away, Is He?
Actually, one running touchdown will tie Dorsett’s career total of 72, but Zeke’s three rushing touchdowns with the New England Patriots are not relevant because this is a Cowboys record.
With four rushing touchdowns to tie the record and a fifth to pass Dorsett, he will be the first player in Cowboys history to have only Emmitt ahead of him.
When will this record be broken, then? Or does Elliott stand a chance of failing to complete the task?
Strangely, if NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell hadn’t imposed a preposterous 6-game punishment on him in the middle of the 2017 season, he probably would have already been ranked second on the list.
With Tony Pollard leaving in free agency to join the Tennessee Titans, Zeke is the team’s most seasoned running back. It also might make him the best of them.
The other players on the running back room depth chart are Dowdle, the newly acquired Freeman, Deuce Vaughn, Hunter Luepke, and practice squad member Malik Davis from year two.
Zeke’s position is still up in the air, but it seems unlikely that he won’t have enough goal-line carries to score five touchdowns on the ground—a feat he has only failed to do in one season of his career, which was the previous one with the Patriots.
I won’t put a stamp on the game where he surpasses Dorsett in the record books because it would be irresponsible of me.
Let’s just say that before the regular season is out, he will rush for his fifth touchdown. Depending on how he’s used, that could occur early in the season or later.
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