Ezekiel Elliott Downplays Buzz Calling for Tony Pollard to Be Cowboys' No. 1 RB

Dallas Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott was dismissive of outside calls to start Tony Pollard ahead of him at running back.

"At the end of the day, those aren't the people signing my checks," Elliott said Wednesday, per the Dallas Morning News' Calvin Watkins. "Those aren't the cats that are making the final decisions. I think there's a reason they're not the ones making those decisions. I don't think it really matters."

Elliott is justifying the fears some fans had when the Cowboys signed him to a six-year, $90 million extension in September 2019. Paying top dollar for running backs—even the best at the position—may not be the smartest investment.

The three-time Pro Bowler is showing why in 2020. He has run for 832 yards and five touchdowns through 13 games. His 3.9 yards per carry and 64 yards per game are both career lows, while his six fumbles are tied for a career high.

Pollard, meanwhile, has been the strongest performer out of Dallas' backfield. He has 408 yards and four touchdowns on 87 carries, which is nearly a full yard higher per carry (4.7) than Elliott.

The 23-year-old hasn't looked like a backup.

If Elliott wasn't earning an average of $15 million annually, the conversation might be about how the Cowboys boast a dynamic 1-2 combo at running back. In addition, Elliott could benefit from having somebody alleviate a portion of the burden off his back considering his 1,380 carries are the most in the NFL since 2016.

But Elliott's contract is inevitably part of the conversation, and not without some merit. The Cowboys are spending a premium for one running back who might be equal to or only a marginal upgrade over a backup who's making $675,000.

Elliott is right in that what Mike McCarthy and Jerry Jones say is all that matters in terms of his role, but the discourse around Dallas' offense probably won't go away anytime soon if Pollard continues playing this well.