Cowboys traded one Ezekiel Elliott for another with Tony Pollard, Skip Bayless claims

The Dallas Cowboys made the move this off-season to commit to emerging running back Tony Pollard while moving on from veteran Ezekiel Elliott.

The team released Elliott to save money in cap space shortly after they placed the franchise tag on Pollard for this season, paying him $10.1 million.

Undisputed host Skip Bayless thinks that the Cowboys replaced Elliott with another version of Elliott in Tony Pollard, referring to latter's injury in the divisional round of the NFC Playoffs.

"Well, it could be, but I'm just saying that's who I want because that's a need now. Right. Obviously, Tony Pollard is coming off what could be career threatening. When we're talking about a running back with wheels like Tony Pollard has. if you break your fibula and you've got an ankle problem to the point you need that tight rope surgery in your ankle, they say he's going to be 100%."

Bayless added that once Zeke got hurt, he lost a little bit of his burst and that he thinks the same could happen to Pollard.

"How do we know. You know what happened to Zeke once he lost a little bit of burst? Did he not look shockingly average to you over the last three years? Okay. Is it possible Tony Pollard, who's under the tag now for 10.1 million? Well, you start looking a little more ordinary because he doesn't quite have his [stuff] back."

Pollard is recovering from a high ankle sprain and tibula fracture suffered against the Francisco 49ers in the Cowboys' last game of their 2022-2023 season.

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Could the Cowboys bring back Ezekiel Elliott this season?

Ezekiel Elliott Dallas Cowboys v Cincinnati Bengals

Although they released him to save money, the Dallas Cowboys are open to the idea of bringing back Ezekiel Elliott this season. They saved $10 million in cap space by releasing him but could bring him back on a cheaper deal.

Head coach Mike McCarthy said that the door is always open for Elliott and that nobody felt good about his release.

While Elliott has slowed down in production, he could be good insurance for Pollard as he could miss some time in 2023. Elliott rushed for 876 yards and 12 touchdowns in his seventh season in the NFL.