It pays to be a Buckeye (in the NFL, wise guy)

Zeke Elliott's new deal puts him atop the RB salary ladder, just like another former teammate at his respective position

Well, so much for the posturing of Dallas Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones and his son, Stephen.

That, "Zeke, who?" comment of a few weeks ago is, if not water under the bridge, then cash across the table now that former Buckeye Ezekiel Elliott has agreed to a new contract, making him the highest-paid running back in the NFL.

Elliott was to be on the practice field today in preparation for Sunday's game against the New York Giants.

That smile he flashed frequently while leading Ohio State to the 2014 College Football Playoff title should be front and center now that he's under contract for the next six seasons via a $90 million extension, with $50 million guaranteed.

So, now OSU boasts both the NFL's highest-paid running back and its highest-paid wide receiver in the Saints' Michael Thomas, who this summer agreed to a five-year, $100-million deal.

Thomas and Elliott were teammates on OSU's 2014 national championship team.

Thomas' contract will probably be trumped soon by Julio Jones in Atlanta, so do your bragging now, Buckeye fans.

And don't forget Jacksonville guard Andrew Norwell, whose five-year, $66.5-million contract with $30 million guaranteed was tops at left guard when he signed it in March of 2018.