Why are the Dallas Cowboys & running back Tony Pollard unable to come to an agreement?
The uncertain situation between the franchise and their running back has presented the possibility that he will only be on their roster for one more season.
While the Dallas Cowboys will be counting on the services of running back Tony Pollard for the upcoming 2023 NFL season, it may well be that they have to work quickly to secure him on a long-term basis once the campaign comes to a close.
Tony Pollard & Dallas Cowboys won’t agree before deadline
According to reports, the Dallas Cowboys and running back Tony Pollard are not expected to agree on a long-term deal before Monday’s franchise tag deadline. What that means, is that Pollard will see out the coming season on the $10.1 million franchise tag that he signed this past March, when the team placed the tag on him. What happens after that is anybody’s guess.
A Memphis product, Pollard has spent four seasons in Dallas since being selected in the fourth round back in 2019. In that time he has registered 2,616 yards and seven touchdowns on 510 carries, while adding 1,008 yards and five more scores on 121 receptions. Though he’s often played second fiddle to fellow running back, Ezekiel Elliott, Pollard has quite frankly proven himself to be the more prolific of the two backfield players. To punctuate that point, Pollard ranks third since entering the league among 31 non-quarterbacks with a minimum of 500 touches. His 5.74 yards sit behind only Christian McCaffrey (5.79) and Austin Ekeler (5.75). On top of that, the 26-year-old has consistently been amongst the league’s best tackle-breakers as he continues to produce yardage after contact.
So, what’s the problem between Dallas & Tony Pollard
The nature of the game to be honest. As a running back, securing a long-term deal is always a risky proposition regardless of how good one is. With Dallas still trying to make amends for what was a terrible six-year, $90 million deal with Elliot, it’s not likely that the franchise will be in any hurry to sit down with another running back anytime soon. That’s before we consider the fact that Pollard himself is just back from a broken leg that he suffered during the Divisional Round loss to the San Francisco 49ers. In truth, this is a player who is punching above his weight at the moment, as evidenced by the fact that his $10.1 million salary for this year is three times what he’s earned in his entire career up to this point. Ultimately he may well have to prioritize the hefty pay package of the present over job security in the future.