COWBOYS CUT ELLIOTT AFTER GOOD RUN
The Dallas Cowboys released running back Ezekiel Elliott on Wednesday, ending a seven-season run for a twotime rushing champion who never regained the form of his dominant early years.
Elliott will be designated a post-June 1 cut, according to a person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team didn’t reveal details of the decision. The move will save Dallas about $11 million under the salary cap this season.
Owner and General Manager Jerry Jones said the decision was mutual to let the 27year-old Elliott pursue another team in free agency and give the Cowboys more financial flexibility in building a roster.
“This is one of the toughest parts of operating a team,” said Jones, who issued similarly heartfelt statements after the salary cap-related releases of defensive end DeMarcus Ware and receiver Dez Bryant in the past decade.
“Moments like this come, and extremely difficult decisions and choices are made. For the franchise. For me personally. For players, too,” Jones said. “We will always have a special place and love for Zeke.”
While Elliott finished with 12 rushing touchdowns in a second consecutive playoff season for the Cowboys in 2022, his overall production never matched the value of a $90 million, six-year extension he signed to end a preseason-long holdout in 2019.
As the quick start to Elliott’s career fizzled, 2019 fourthround draft pick Tony Pollard emerged as the best playmaker for quarterback Dak Prescott in the Dallas offense. The Cowboys have placed the $10.1 million franchise tag on Pollard for
2023.
Elliott has 8,262 career yards rushing, third on the Dallas list behind Pro Football Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith, the NFL’s career leading rusher, and Tony Dorsett. Elliott also was third behind Smith and Dorsett with 68 career touchdowns rushing.
Notable
Former No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield was among other players on the move, agreeing to an $8.5 million, oneyear contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mayfield, the top pick by Cleveland in 2018, joins his third team since last July. He gets an opportunity to compete with Kyle Trask to replace Tom Brady, who retired after three seasons with the Buccaneers.
• Jacoby Brissett, who replaced Mayfield in Cleveland while Deshaun Watson served a suspension, agreed to terms with the Washington Commanders on a one-year contract worth $10 million with $8 million guaranteed, according to a person with knowledge of
the deal. Brissett will compete with projected starter Sam Howell, a second-year pro.
• Running back Jamaal Williams and the Saints agreed on a $12 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the deal told the AP. Williams led the NFL with 17 rushing touchdowns while running for a career-best 1,066 yards with the Detroit Lions last season.
• Running back Miles Sanders, coming off his best season with the NFC champion Eagles in which he ran for a careerhigh 1,269 yards with 11 touchdowns, is heading to Carolina. The Panthers also added former Cincinnati Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst on a threeyear contract.
• The New England Patriots made their first big pickup of free agency, adding wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster .A person with knowledge of the deal said it is for three years and could be worth as much as $33 million.
• The Browns agreed with safety Juan Thornhill on a three-year contract worth $21 million — $14 million guaranteed — a person familiar with the negotiations told the AP.
• Six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Fletcher Cox is returning to the Philadelphia Eagles on a $10 million, oneyear deal, according to a person familiar with that deal. The Eagles also informed five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay he’ll be released.
• Veteran safety Jordan Poyer, a two-time second-team All-Pro, is staying in Buffalo on a two-year deal.
• Defensive lineman Morgan Fox agreed to terms to remain with the Los Angeles Chargers. Fox’s agent, David Canter, posted on social media about Fox’s deal. Fox is the third Chargers unrestricted free agent to re-sign with the team, joining offensive lineman Trey Pipkins and backup quarterback Easton Stick. One player who won’t be returning is Matt Feiler, who was released after two years as the starting left guard.
• Lamar Jackson’s future with the Ravens remains unknown, at least for now, but fellow quarterback Tyler Huntley’s became a little clearer just before the NFL free-agency window opened. Baltimore has placed a right of first refusal tender on Huntley, a restricted free agent, his agent, Joseph Behar, confirmed to The Baltimore Sun.
• The San Francisco 49ers agreed to a one-year contract with former Raiders firstround defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell in hopes of reviving his career.
• After fortifying their offensive and defensive lines with splashy moves earlier this week, the Broncos turned their attention to upgrading their special teams when they agreed to a two-year deal with kick returner worth up to $5.5 million.