Cowboys 'Ready to Re-Engage' in Contract Talks with Ezekiel Elliott? Truth Inside The Star

Dallas and Ezekiel Elliott "re-engaging''? None of that speculation is coming to fruition at this time. ... unless Cowboys Nation wants to add up all the "if's'' and "but's'' as being anything at all substantial.

FRISCO - It is "The Storyline That Will Not Die,'' and maybe it shouldn't, as multiple media outlets continue to push the idea of a Dallas Cowboys reunion with Ezekiel Elliott.

The latest suggestion emerges from Bristol, with an ESPN reports that in essence suggests that the the ball is in Elliott’s court should he desire to return to Dallas ... at the right price.

"I was told,'' said reporter Jeremy Fowler, "that Dallas certainly would re-engage in conversation if Zeke wanted to do that.''

That suggestion is stated a bit too strongly from what we've been told. "Door open''? "Still possible''? That's how we've reported the idea of Elliott - who was released on March 15 after seven seasons in Dallas in order to save nearly $11 million by designating him as a post-June 1 cut - coming back to the Cowboys.

He still has his home, located minutes from the team's headquarters at here in Frisco at The Star. He still works out with a plan to play in 2023. And the Cowboys, even with Tony Pollard taking over as the full-time starter, might still end up needing a "power back.''

Oh, and we've spoken with everybody from Dak Prescott to Troy Aikman who view Zeke's return as a worthwhile idea. But Fowler of ESPN seems to be saying that the Cowboys are simply waiting for Elliott to show up at The Star with pen in hand. ... until we dig in a little more to what the reporter fully said.

“I checked in with somebody this week, who said that Dallas has not closed the door on a potential Zeke return,” Fowler said during an appearance on Saturday’s SportsCenter. “Now, there’s nothing cooking there, and it might not happen, but I was told that Dallas certainly would re-engage in conversation if Zeke wanted to do that. But he could continue to wait and see what develops in the next few months job-wise.”

Frankly - and as is so often the case with reports like this - there are more "if's'' and "but's'' in the report than there is news. "Not closed the door''? The Cowboys, starting with our visit with owner Jerry Jones at the NFL meetings in Arizona weeks ago, have said that on the record.

But then comes: "Nothing cooking.'' ... "Might not happen.'' ... "If.'' ... and "He could continue to wait.''

We still believe the smart money is on Elliott - the two-time NFL rushing champ who turns 28 in July and who to our knowledge has yet to receive an offer of any kind from any team - getting his break once teams work their way through some roster decisions and any injury issues. 

That might mean a deal later this summer ... and it probably still means a deal at a fraction of the $15 million APY salary to which Elliott is accustomed. And despite Jerry and Stephen Jones speaking of Zeke with reverence here at The Star on Monday … we stand by our many stories that say re-signing him is not the plan.

For certain. none of aforementioned teasing is coming to fruition at this time. ... because all the "if's'' and "but's'' remain not at all substantial.

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