Cowboys extend Elliott, holdout ends

Ezekiel Elliott has a new contract with the Cowboys just in time for the regular season.

The star running back and the club agreed Wednesday on a sixyear, $90 million contract extension that will make him the NFL’s highest-paid player at his position and end a holdout that lasted the entire preseason.

The breakthrough was finalized before dawn on the morning of the team’s first full workout before Sunday’s opener at home against the Giants.

Elliott will get $50 million guaranteed. The $15 million-peryear average on the extension surpasses the $14.4 million Todd Gurley got from the Rams last summer. Gurley’s guarantee was $45 million.

The 41-day stalemate between Dallas and the two-time NFL rushing champion came with the Cowboys holding high expectations coming off their first playoff win with Elliott and quarterback Dak Prescott. They have won two NFC East titles in three seasons together.

Elliott held out with two years left on his rookie contract, at $3.9 million this season and $9.1 million in 2020. The fourth overall pick in the 2016 draft wanted to be the highest-paid back after getting those two rushing titles in only three years.

Ring that Bell: Running back Le’Veon Bell doesn’t want the Jets to be cautious with him anymore.

Bell, who didn’t play in the preseason, told head coach Adam Gase to use him as much as he wants in Sunday’s opener against the Bills, Gase said.

“When I spoke to him yesterday he said, ‘Don’t hold back,’ ” Gase said. “He feels like he’s ready to go. I think he’s pretty excited to get out there.”

Bell hasn’t played in an NFL game since Jan. 14, 2018. He sat out all of last season over a contract dispute with the Steelers.

The Jets, who signed Bell to a four-year, $52.5-million contract in March, decided to hold him out of the preseason to keep him fresh and healthy for the regular season. Bell has been itching to play, and will get his chance Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

Extra points: The Titans placed K Ryan Succop (right leg) on injured reserve and signed veteran Cairo Santos . ... Jaguars QB Nick Foles will start the season on the injury report. The team listed Foles on its initial report with an abdominal oblique injury — he had some soreness following training camp — but said he’s expected to play in the season opener against the Chiefs . ... Star WR Antonio Brown said the Raiders have fined him close to $54,000 for missing a practice and walkthrough last month . ... The Broncos partnered with Empower Retirement on a 21-year deal to name their stadium “Empower Field at Mile High.” The Metropolitan Football Stadium District will meet later this week to sign off on the agreement that runs through 2039 and ends a three-year span without a title sponsor for the stadium that opened in 2001 . ... Bobby Dillon, the Packers’ career leader with 52 interceptions who lost his left eye following two childhood accidents, died Aug. 22 in Temple, Texas. He was 89.