Ezekiel Elliott wants to work out a long-term contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys prior to the 2019 campaign, and he's willing to sit out the upcoming season until both sides come to terms on a new deal, ESPN's Josina Anderson reports.Â
Anderson's report came in response to a similar claim made by former NFL running back Eric Dickerson on FS1's Undisputed that Elliott's agent Rocky Arceneaux informed him that the star running back could miss some regular season games over their contract dispute. Dickerson added that Zeke would prefer to avoid that situation.Â
The Cowboys had to see this coming. After Elliott rushed for 1,434 yards on a league-high 304 carries with six touchdowns last season, and captured his second rushing title in three years, the Cowboys responded by picking up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract for 2020 last month where he will be paid $9.1 million.Â
Meanwhile, Elliott is watching other elite running backs in the NFL ink record-setting deals at the position. In March, Le’Veon Bell signed a four-year, $52.5 million contract with the New York Jets, making him the highest-paid running back in the league.
Four months later, Todd Gurley surpassed Bell's deal when he agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Rams worth $60 million. If the Cowboys and Elliott find common ground, it will reportedly need to be in the ballpark of Le'Veon's contract.
