Cowboys Ex Ezekiel Elliott 'Close to Signing' with Browns or Chargers? Odd Report

We bring you an odd new tale projecting Ezekiel Elliott's fate that would have him land with either the Cleveland Browns or the Los Angeles Chargers.

FRISCO - "Unnamed sources'' are a necessary evil in journalism, making it all the more refreshing - not to mention informative and accurate - when the source allows his name to be attached to his comment.

That's why we appreciate when Troy Aikman told us, on the record and for attribution, that the Dallas Cowboys should re-sign running back Ezekiel Elliott, Aikman saying, “I don’t want to speak for the Cowboys or the Joneses, but ... I know there’s a great amount of respect for Zeke. ... I’ve talked to a number of people that have been in that locker room - coaches, players - and he’s the glue.'' 

That's why we appreciate when Zeke's former Dallas running backs coach Skip Peete recently said (via the Tampa Bay Times) that Elliott is now a "$4 million'' player and not a :$12 million player ... I think that's part of the reason he's sitting out there. If you're going to play, I mean, you're going to be the second and third guy. That's kind of what the price is. So. that's something that a person has to be able to see that that is what it is going to be."

Those opinions from Aikman and Peete aren't necessarily gospel. But they are at least responsible.

Which brings us to an odd new tale projecting Elliott's fate that would have him land with either the Cleveland Browns or the Los Angeles Chargers.

Is there anything wrong with either of those concepts? Not necessarily; we've reported on the Elliott connection with the Chargers, who now employ Dallas ex coordinator Kellen Moore. So educated speculation is merited there.

But here's the oddity, and it's written exactly like this: "A league insider told Sportskeeda that the most likely landing spots for Ezekiel Elliott are either the Cleveland Browns or the Los Angeles Chargers.  ... Elliott, paired with Chargers starting running back Austin Ekeler, would give the Chargers arguably one of the most lethal running back tandems in all of football - one that would feature elusiveness, power and speed."

On the other hand, the Browns need a backup running back to Nick Chubb considering they lost D'Ernest Johnson in free agency and with Kareem Hunt remaining a free agent.

We find it strange that the "league insider'' 1) speaks so eloquently on the subject of Zeke to the Chargers, using words like "arguably'' and "lethal'' while also matching Elliott with words like "elusiveness'' and "speed'' that do not really fit him.

To get straight to the point: Those sort of writerly buzz words are not usually part of how a "source'' expresses himself.

And 2) With the "league insider'' speaking (or typing or texting) so expressively about Elliott and the Chargers ... why isn't there another flowery sentence that explains the connection with the Browns?

To get even more straight to the point: This "sourced story'' doesn't smell right.

Elliott turns 28 in July but after a 12-touchdown season, has seen his perceived value fall off a plateau. There is a time and a place for him to continue his career. The Chargers? Sensible. The Browns? We don't know. But this particular report, presented in this manner, simply doesn't pass "the smell test'' of truth.

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