Designating Ezekiel Elliott as a post-June 1
release (which the Cowboys did) means the
Cowboys won't have to pay Zeke's $10.9 mil-
lion 2023 salary but incurs $5.82 million in
dead cap this year & $6.04 million next year.
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10068926-cowboys-updated-depth-chart-salary-cap-after-ezekiel-elliotts-reported-release

So, Zeke's 2023 cap hit was $16,720,000, but
on June 1, it will be
$16,720,000
- $10,900,000 unpaid salary
+ $5,820,000 dead cap hit
= $11,640,000

So, the 2023 cap hit is reduced by $5,080,000
on June 1.

On June 1, Zeke's 2023 cost will be $11,640,000,
making Dak the 3rd most expensive player despite
not being on the team, more expensive than
4th most expensive player Zack Martin at $11,040,000
5th most expensive player Tony Pollard at $10,091,000

In 2024, despite not being on the team, Zeke's
2024 cap hit (i.e. dead cap) will be $6,040,000.

'Tis the cost of having an owner/GM who doesn't
grasp the risks entailed in thinking a running back
will play great for 6 more years because he played
great for his first 3 years, signing him to a 6 year
$90,000,000 contract.

Zeke actually played great for 1 more year, & the
Cowboys are paying for that by paying $11,860,000
in dead cap in 2023-2024. Zeke's 5th to 7th years,
years 2 to 4 of his 6 year contract, were what norm-
ally happens to a running back in his 5th to 7th
years, rush yards/game 62.1 compared to first
3 years rush yards/game 101.2 .

~~~

Jerry's having had Emmitt Smith apparently made
him hope (think?) that Zeke could repeat Emmitt's
greatness which lasted the first 11 years of his
career.

PFR AV & Rush Yards/Game of Emmitt & Zeke
compared over their first 11 years (first 7 years
for Zeke who the Cowboys are paying for 2 more
years despite not being on the team):

PFR AV

.......... Emmitt ... Zeke

1st ... 8 ............. 16
2nd .. 17 ........... 9
3rd ... 21 ........... 15 (Zeke 6 year $90 mil contract prior to season 4)
4th ... 20 ........... 11
5th ... 17 ........... 7
6th ... 20 ........... 8
7th ... 9 ............. 6
8th ... 8 ............. 0 (Zeke released, dead cap hit $5,820,000)
9th ... 11 ........... 0 (Zeke released, dead cap hit $6,040,000)
10th . 11 ........... -
11th . 10 ........... -

~~~

Rush Yards/Game

.......... Emmitt ... Zeke

1st ... 58.6 ........ 108.7
2nd .. 97.7 ........ 98.3
3rd ... 107.1 ...... 95.6 (Zeke 6 year $90 mil contract prior to season 4)
4th ... 106.1 ...... 84.8
5th ... 98.9 ........ 65.3
6th ... 110.8 ...... 58.9
7th ... 80.3 ........ 58.4
8th ... 67.1 ........ 0 (Zeke released, dead cap hit $5,820,000)
9th ... 83.3 ........ 0 (2nd year of dead cap hit $6,040,000)
10th . 93.1 ........ -
11th . 75.2 ........ -

Emmitt Smith Career
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitEm00.htm

Ezekiel Elliott Career
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/ElliEz00.htm

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