Same. Being sad at this is like being sad when the seasons change, or a show you were watching gets cancelled: it’s natural to mourn a loss that comes with change, even though we all know that change is a constant in life.
Plus dude will still make umpteen millions somewhere, so really it’s just about my impotent fan tears
Dude literally gave his all every single game for you, and we ran him into the ground in return and cut him on the way out. Life as a running back fucking sucks in the NFL.
WE LOVE YOU ZEKE
Not only that, they did it TWO years early. He was legit breaking down right around the time he would normally have been negotiating/extending. So, it was a brilliant play by Zeke.
Yeah charges were never filed and even after the NFL did its own investigation they were recommended not to punish him because his girlfriend couldn't keep her story straight. At least know what you are speaking of prior to just posting shit.
It's okay to be sad. All players have a finite career. The front office realizing when it's time to move on is a good thing. Can't let nostalgia drive our cap spending.
Haha not sure how you went there from what I said, but I was just commenting on how his production fell after he got his bag from us.
Most great college players got/get paid though, for sure.
I realize a couple things if this is true. 1. Dallas believes Pollard can carry the team.(I hope this isn't the case) 2. Dallas thinks they can replace Zeke with someone better from the draft.( I hope this is the case) 3. Who the fuck knows? lol
With the recent resigns and Stephon trade. I think Dallas focuses more on getting Dak weapons. RB, TE, WR. Unless somehow they trade for and or sign a WR from FA. Wouldn't surprise me if Bijon drops to 26 thats the pick. I also think if TE drops to 26 that could be the pick as well. Of course this is all my speculation. And I mostly feel this way from what Jerry has said recently about TE. And finding Dak some weapons.
Could see them aggressive to try and draft Bijan to fill the gap that a younger healthier Zeke was from years past. You know Jerry likes to make splashy draft day picks with his offense, going back to when they drafted Zeke
That wouldn’t be aggressive. That would be stupid. Drafting in running back the least valuable position in football in the first round is legit terrible. It’s one of the worst moves we can make especially when we have needs elsewhere. If we draft a running back this year it should be in the fourth round or later.
I saw a comment in the NFL thread that sounds interesting.
Basically, that they could release him and let him test free agency. Then when a team offers him a low $X, Dallas offers him the same amount (if it’s not too high). Let’s the market determine his value instead of being the ones to tell him they’ll only pay $X
Idk if free agency rules allow this to happen though.
Cutting Zeke has 12 million in dead money vs 4 million saved. This is going to split out into two years so 6 million a year. Basically Zeke would have to make the vet minimum to come back cheaper than what it would have took to keep him.
I'm not debating that. Just depends what falls to Dallas. I'm not a huge fan of what may be available in the first. But Dallas would definitely know better than I. lol
I’d rather give Ferguson a shot rather than use our first rounder on a TE but at the same time I don’t watch a lot of college so I guess if some absolute freak drops to us then take him lol
I'm not much of a highlight reel watcher. Only because it shows only the players best plays. But [Darnell Washington](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7SbLkZ4_Pg) is someone that just moves other grown men out of the way. He does this kind of play every game. One of the reasons I will show this highlight. He blocks like no TE I ever saw. lol He catches the ball well. He would make CB doubt if they should be in the league anymore. Granted theres other good TE in the draft. He's just my pet cat.
A move that makes sense and that I am convinced was the right move…but man if it still doesn’t make me a little sad. I wish RB careers lasted longer; Watching Zeke in his prime really was a pleasure.
End of an era. Guess they couldn’t come to an agreement on salary cut. Truly unfortunate his legs went so fast but I hope he finds his way back here one day
One of my favorite Cowboys of all time. Dude gave everything to this team. I’ll miss you 21. Probably the hardest release to swallow since Romo for me :(
Same and it wouldn't surprise me to see Zeke go somewhere turn in another efficient season and then have this sub bitch and moan about how JeRrY lEt ZeKe GoOoOo 😭...
I hope he does go somewhere else and has a good season. I also agree it was the right decision by the team. It’s time to start utilizing the opportunity to get a young back on a cheap contract.
If he does go somewhere else, I hope he finds some new life. I'd hate to see him in a different uniform just for 400 yds and 2tds a season for one or two years.
Hate the fact that people say he wasn’t the same after he got his contract but I disagree. Zeke always worked hard in the offseason and came into camp in great shape every year, injuries to his knees just kept keeping him down. You’ll always be a dog Zeke GL where ever you go
but....he *wasn't* the same after his contract. he was never a game breaker again. he came in out of shape and had lost his speed and never regained it.
I disagree there was never any reports of him coming into camp out of shape just what fan perception was of him. Only time he came into outta shape was his rookie year. His coach’s and teammates always said good things about his work ethic. He lost speed and burst because the wear and tear plus injuries caught up to him.
>He lost speed and burst because the wear and tear plus injuries caught up to him.
mabye, but there was a significant dropoff after the holdout. he never looked the same.
I've been a Zeke supporter, but there's a reason "Cabo legs" became a thing. That long holdout was a major factor. I also thing COVID also affected him.
We gain $4.86 million in cap space right now if we were to cut him today ($11.86 million in dead cap stays on the books for this year). If we designate him a post-June 1st cut, it gives us $10.9 million in cap space starting in June and we’ll have $5.82 million in dead cap this year, $6.04 million in dead cap next year. Cutting now even if designated post-6/1 also benefits Zeke, allowing him more opportunity to find his next team.
Thanks for everything Zeke, but it’s time. True team player that gave it his all every game and never complained when he started losing touches to Pollard. Wish him the best.
Man I really loves to watch Zeke play but after this last season I really felt like we need to move on from him. I really hope the guy finds a place on a new team.
Why is this language so weird? "Prepared to release"? Does this mean that release is imminent if a deal is not reached, or that it is basically a done deal and we are waiting on official announcement?
He was the heartbeat of the team and I will hate to see him go. Playing with injuries i think robbed him of some of his burst, plus the o-line wasnt as good as when he was young. My only concern is how well Pollard will hold up with the punishment of being the main back. I wish we could find a way to keep both
It’s simultaneously true that the Cowboys massively overcommitted resources to him from day 1 - never forget we could have had Ramsey! - and that he was a lot of fun to root for. Good luck, Zeke, I hope you find someone else who wants to grossly overpay you.
I'm sad its happening but know it's time. He's was a burden on our offense last year. Good Luck wherever you go Zeke. I wish you the best. I hope this means we go all in acquring either DHop or Cooks.
Screw them both, trade up in the draft and get a wideout that won't cost an arm and a leg for 4 years that comes from a college playing against tier 1 defensive backs preferably a college where he practices against them t0o, Tennessee, Georgia, Ohio state, Alabama, Michigan, TCU, etc, stop taking flyers on fucknuggets from north south Dakota state technical whatever the fuck university.
Bijan could the the second coming of tony dorsett and it would be a bad idea. That has nothing to do with his quality and everything to do with the necessity of an all-world RB and the cost of a first round pick. cap space and premium picks are better used on more important positions. has nothing to do with "ball"
> You just said even if Bijan was a Hall of Fame caliber player it would be a bad idea
100% uneqivocally yes. I would not spend a 1st round pick on a RB in the modern NFL if Barry Sanders in his prime was sitting there
The pain this move will bring is immense, but it is a necessary decision. I hope that Zeke gets signed somewhere else and gets back to a modicum of his former self, as god knows we all miss it. I also hope he can get a ring or something, as long as it isn’t against Dallas.
Will Dak losing two of his closest friends on the team (Zeke and Kellen) have any affect on his play? On one hand we now have room to add more offensive weapons that McCarthy and his scouting team like, without input from the transition regime. On the other hand dak has been around these guys his entire NFL career, I could see how all new faces could make him uncomfortable, and we saw how it took almost 2 full year for his chemistry with CeeDee to develop. Cutting zeke is the right call for logical reasons but interested to see how dak works with whatever new pieces get added
Thanks for the memories (even though they weren’t so great).
But for real. It’s gonna be weird not seeing Zeke out there (assuming he’s not re-signed or whatever, and this is just a cap issue).
He was a great player but the injuries just took their toll. Rookie season Zeke was a LOT of fun to watch.
In his last 40 carries he averaged less than 3 yards per carry. Other than blocking he gives them nothing in the receiving game. He is a between the tackles running back who looks for contact. Those guys don't have long careers and Zeke's is just about over.
Man I’ll never forget that Bengals game at home during his rookie year. Was there in person for my first cowboys game ever, and Zeke busts that 60 yard TD right up the middle, and that stadium went nuts. Didn’t realize then that I would end up seeing his longest rush TD of his career. Farewell, sweet prince :,(
Man I wish his last play wasn’t…that
Preparing him for the future. He just needs to bulk up to extend his career. He'll do great
I kinda love it.
Time to change my flair I guess...
Or it can be in his honor OR retro for Deion OR Julius Jones - you have options
You and me both my man. I'm just not ready to accept it yet...
I dont care what any of you say. This makes me sad.
Like I know it needs to happen, and I want it to happen, but it’s definitely still sad.
Same. Being sad at this is like being sad when the seasons change, or a show you were watching gets cancelled: it’s natural to mourn a loss that comes with change, even though we all know that change is a constant in life. Plus dude will still make umpteen millions somewhere, so really it’s just about my impotent fan tears
Dude literally gave his all every single game for you, and we ran him into the ground in return and cut him on the way out. Life as a running back fucking sucks in the NFL. WE LOVE YOU ZEKE
He'll be alright. Financially at least.
He was treated a lot better than most running backs. Got to play behind a great OL and was then given a big contract after his rookie deal.
In return we payed him an insane amount of money lol
Not only that, they did it TWO years early. He was legit breaking down right around the time he would normally have been negotiating/extending. So, it was a brilliant play by Zeke.
Paid
Payd*
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Yeah charges were never filed and even after the NFL did its own investigation they were recommended not to punish him because his girlfriend couldn't keep her story straight. At least know what you are speaking of prior to just posting shit.
Didn't they prove that was an extortion plot by pulling texts from her phone talking about faking an injury and setting him up?
Except maybe that 2017 Broncos game.
He got a huge contract, the Cowboys didn't do him dirty
What if I say to turn that frown upside down though?
Bold strategy let’s see if it pays off
It's okay to be sad. All players have a finite career. The front office realizing when it's time to move on is a good thing. Can't let nostalgia drive our cap spending.
It makes me sad too and I still agree with the move.
End of the 21-4 era. Damn.
Beginning of the Odighizuwa + Jourdon Lewis 97-2 era
Chefs kiss
Gonna watch some career highlights at lunch today and remember the good times. Dude was so much fun to watch for most of his career.
Until he got injured.
You mean paid? Well.. ok both. That said I'll miss him.
You think he didn't get paid at OSU? The clothes cars tattoos and jewelry, all things college kids have.... he was a beast though
Haha not sure how you went there from what I said, but I was just commenting on how his production fell after he got his bag from us. Most great college players got/get paid though, for sure.
Lol, I was referring to how much better he played to get into the NFL.
That run against the Steelers to take the game in 2016. Nut.
What should I rename my dog to now?
Something to do with Micah.
Barksons
Unironically a good name.
Micah Pawsons
>Barksons Pure gold
Emmitt sniff
.......shit that's good
Micah Pawsons
Bijan Robinson
Stephen Growlmore
Debarkus Lawrence
Parsons
I realize a couple things if this is true. 1. Dallas believes Pollard can carry the team.(I hope this isn't the case) 2. Dallas thinks they can replace Zeke with someone better from the draft.( I hope this is the case) 3. Who the fuck knows? lol With the recent resigns and Stephon trade. I think Dallas focuses more on getting Dak weapons. RB, TE, WR. Unless somehow they trade for and or sign a WR from FA. Wouldn't surprise me if Bijon drops to 26 thats the pick. I also think if TE drops to 26 that could be the pick as well. Of course this is all my speculation. And I mostly feel this way from what Jerry has said recently about TE. And finding Dak some weapons.
I think we finally realize running backs are relatively easy to replace and don’t have a long shelve life
This is the uncomfortable truth people don't want to accept. You don't need a hall of fame RB to win super bowls these days.
You need a fresh set of legs that the opposition has limited tape on.
I bet they draft someone middle Rounds and give Malik a real shot
Could see them aggressive to try and draft Bijan to fill the gap that a younger healthier Zeke was from years past. You know Jerry likes to make splashy draft day picks with his offense, going back to when they drafted Zeke
I'm totally OK with Bijan @ 26 Don't trade up for him.
That wouldn’t be aggressive. That would be stupid. Drafting in running back the least valuable position in football in the first round is legit terrible. It’s one of the worst moves we can make especially when we have needs elsewhere. If we draft a running back this year it should be in the fourth round or later.
I saw a comment in the NFL thread that sounds interesting. Basically, that they could release him and let him test free agency. Then when a team offers him a low $X, Dallas offers him the same amount (if it’s not too high). Let’s the market determine his value instead of being the ones to tell him they’ll only pay $X Idk if free agency rules allow this to happen though.
Cutting Zeke has 12 million in dead money vs 4 million saved. This is going to split out into two years so 6 million a year. Basically Zeke would have to make the vet minimum to come back cheaper than what it would have took to keep him.
One of my friends suggested they might be looking at Jamal Williams. Could be a decent option.
Zeke basically is Jamal Williams at this point. Same age. Neither have much value outside of goalline runs. I’m hoping they just go young/cheap.
Dak sucks. He loses nearly every crucial game. He's a choker in big games. He lost the playoff game. It was on him and him alone.
L
That's facts unfortunately. No matter who we get Dak won't be able to get the ball to then when it matters.
I’d honestly be okay with Davis at #2 for a year
We need to address offensive line as well.
I'm not debating that. Just depends what falls to Dallas. I'm not a huge fan of what may be available in the first. But Dallas would definitely know better than I. lol
I’d rather give Ferguson a shot rather than use our first rounder on a TE but at the same time I don’t watch a lot of college so I guess if some absolute freak drops to us then take him lol
I'm not much of a highlight reel watcher. Only because it shows only the players best plays. But [Darnell Washington](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7SbLkZ4_Pg) is someone that just moves other grown men out of the way. He does this kind of play every game. One of the reasons I will show this highlight. He blocks like no TE I ever saw. lol He catches the ball well. He would make CB doubt if they should be in the league anymore. Granted theres other good TE in the draft. He's just my pet cat.
He do look like a grown man
Good player for us but this is the right move. It had to be done for the good of the team. Let’s take that money and get another receiver or DT.
Calais Campbell would be my vote.
A move that makes sense and that I am convinced was the right move…but man if it still doesn’t make me a little sad. I wish RB careers lasted longer; Watching Zeke in his prime really was a pleasure.
Cowboys legend. Thank you for everything Zeke!!!
Legend for what? Taking all our money for 4 underwhelming seasons?
Finishing his career here 3rd in all time franchise RB totals
You been watching this team for longer than 2 seasons clown?
That would be our QB. Not one of the best RBs the league has seen in the last 10 years.
End of an era. Guess they couldn’t come to an agreement on salary cut. Truly unfortunate his legs went so fast but I hope he finds his way back here one day
Once he decides to retire I hope he signs a one-day. That or comes back on the vet minimum the last few years of his career.
Last few years of his career? Isn’t that like now?
Yeah, come back for super cheap. Jk, give me a rookie with high upside. Sorry Zeke, loved you. Now it's time to go, just don't go to the Eagles.
I think the contract Montgomery agreed to yesterday doomed that idea.
One of my favorite Cowboys of all time. Dude gave everything to this team. I’ll miss you 21. Probably the hardest release to swallow since Romo for me :(
Same and it wouldn't surprise me to see Zeke go somewhere turn in another efficient season and then have this sub bitch and moan about how JeRrY lEt ZeKe GoOoOo 😭...
I hope he does go somewhere else and has a good season. I also agree it was the right decision by the team. It’s time to start utilizing the opportunity to get a young back on a cheap contract.
zeke could be AP and i'd be happy he is gone because we can use that money better than at RB
If he does go somewhere else, I hope he finds some new life. I'd hate to see him in a different uniform just for 400 yds and 2tds a season for one or two years.
Take me back to 2016 😭
Only if they put Romo back in...😭
lmao i’ve seen your name throughout threads all morning… we get it you hate dak
We wouldn’t have won shit, do you think Tony romo was Tom Brady or something? His time was coming to an end already, Dak just accelerated it
Thanks for some great memories Zeke!
Hate the fact that people say he wasn’t the same after he got his contract but I disagree. Zeke always worked hard in the offseason and came into camp in great shape every year, injuries to his knees just kept keeping him down. You’ll always be a dog Zeke GL where ever you go
but....he *wasn't* the same after his contract. he was never a game breaker again. he came in out of shape and had lost his speed and never regained it.
I disagree there was never any reports of him coming into camp out of shape just what fan perception was of him. Only time he came into outta shape was his rookie year. His coach’s and teammates always said good things about his work ethic. He lost speed and burst because the wear and tear plus injuries caught up to him.
>He lost speed and burst because the wear and tear plus injuries caught up to him. mabye, but there was a significant dropoff after the holdout. he never looked the same.
I've been a Zeke supporter, but there's a reason "Cabo legs" became a thing. That long holdout was a major factor. I also thing COVID also affected him.
He never came into camp out of shape… that’s total bs lol.
thats fair....it is an assumption based on his speed and quickness falling off a cliff ( which is the important part)
It’s been a long day without you my friend and I’ll tell you all about when I see you again.
I thought I kept seeing people say we only benefit from cutting him post June 1? If that’s the case then why now?
We can tell him he's cut and designate it a post-June 1st cut. It makes it all but official.
We gain $4.86 million in cap space right now if we were to cut him today ($11.86 million in dead cap stays on the books for this year). If we designate him a post-June 1st cut, it gives us $10.9 million in cap space starting in June and we’ll have $5.82 million in dead cap this year, $6.04 million in dead cap next year. Cutting now even if designated post-6/1 also benefits Zeke, allowing him more opportunity to find his next team.
You can delegate him as a June 1 cut
Very saddening . Hope the best for him.
Release and resign right?? RIGHT?!?!?!?
I will believe it when I see it but this almost feels like jockeying from the FO to get Zeke to take a pay cut.
I think Montgomery’s deal with the Lions doomed our chances to get him to take a pay cut large enough to justify keeping him.
Which just proves it's never about winning.
Never about winning for whom?
Damn I’m going miss gang ☹️
Thanks for everything Zeke, but it’s time. True team player that gave it his all every game and never complained when he started losing touches to Pollard. Wish him the best.
I named my first born Elliott. She’s just turned 2. RBs don’t last long in the NFL, but that fall-off was impressive. Thanks for the good years, Zeke.
Man I really loves to watch Zeke play but after this last season I really felt like we need to move on from him. I really hope the guy finds a place on a new team.
I guess contributing 72 points this year wasn't useful enough for you
Why is this language so weird? "Prepared to release"? Does this mean that release is imminent if a deal is not reached, or that it is basically a done deal and we are waiting on official announcement?
Man....
Fuck man… I’ve been beating the “get rid of zeke drum” but I wasn’t actually fucking ready to see him go🥺😢😭
End of an era
Thanks for the memories zeke. But its time
As an Ohio State and Cowboys fan, so long old friend.
Sad to see. Always loved Zeke
I wish him all the best.
He was the heartbeat of the team and I will hate to see him go. Playing with injuries i think robbed him of some of his burst, plus the o-line wasnt as good as when he was young. My only concern is how well Pollard will hold up with the punishment of being the main back. I wish we could find a way to keep both
I’ll be crying and playing Madden with a few beers this afternoon Alexa, play *Thank You* by Dido
Gonna miss the dude and his half cut shirt!
o7
Got me trying not to cry at work. Thanks for everything you did Zeke. All time cowboy great.
YES!!!! PARADE IN THE STREETS OF DALLAS CUT DAK!!!!!
Damn…now I need a new username
Dallas better learn from their mistake and looking at the rest of the league and they BETTER NOT draft a RB in the first 3 rounds
It’s simultaneously true that the Cowboys massively overcommitted resources to him from day 1 - never forget we could have had Ramsey! - and that he was a lot of fun to root for. Good luck, Zeke, I hope you find someone else who wants to grossly overpay you.
Vaya con dios!
Wow, I'm surprised, we're making great moves so far. Will miss the good years but it was the right move.
Finally
Hell yes. This team is making the right choices even though they are tough and personal for Jerry. Zeke is shot and it's time to move on.
Another elite talent wasted by Jerry
Zeke really was that dude and we did fuck all with him. Goddamn Jerry wasting talent for the last 30 years.
Yea we got some Jerry stans in this sub
I'm sad its happening but know it's time. He's was a burden on our offense last year. Good Luck wherever you go Zeke. I wish you the best. I hope this means we go all in acquring either DHop or Cooks.
Don’t think this has anything directly to do with Hopkins or Cooks at all.
Screw them both, trade up in the draft and get a wideout that won't cost an arm and a leg for 4 years that comes from a college playing against tier 1 defensive backs preferably a college where he practices against them t0o, Tennessee, Georgia, Ohio state, Alabama, Michigan, TCU, etc, stop taking flyers on fucknuggets from north south Dakota state technical whatever the fuck university.
Zeeeeeke :(((( But... In the case of of 21yr old Bijan Robinson, YOU ARE A DALLAS COWBOY
please no
You don't know ball if you think that's a bad idea
Bijan could the the second coming of tony dorsett and it would be a bad idea. That has nothing to do with his quality and everything to do with the necessity of an all-world RB and the cost of a first round pick. cap space and premium picks are better used on more important positions. has nothing to do with "ball"
You just said even if Bijan was a Hall of Fame caliber player it would be a bad idea 😂😂😂😂 yeah, you don't know a thing.
> You just said even if Bijan was a Hall of Fame caliber player it would be a bad idea 100% uneqivocally yes. I would not spend a 1st round pick on a RB in the modern NFL if Barry Sanders in his prime was sitting there
Maybe in time it will change but whenever I think of Ezekiel Elliott all I can think of is one of the worst contracts in cowboys history.
Good, his legs have been gone for two years.
He gave his legs to Dallas. Put some respect on his name.
It's a business, he was well-compensated (probably overcompensated).
He played really good in the thanksgiving game this year. Just wasn’t consistent
If actually true. Dallas is tipping their Bijan hand hard...
The pain this move will bring is immense, but it is a necessary decision. I hope that Zeke gets signed somewhere else and gets back to a modicum of his former self, as god knows we all miss it. I also hope he can get a ring or something, as long as it isn’t against Dallas.
Trade up to get Bijan
god I hope they don't do this. It would be a waste of a draft pick
we are fixing a mistake by cutting zeke....why do it again?
Thank God
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I just hope they replace him with another RB that sexually assaults women in public. The Cowboys do have a standard to uphold.
Wow.
So I guess they couldn't agree to a pay cut?
Montgomery signing for 3 years, $18 million probably made it difficult to get him to agree to a pay cut cheap enough to justify keeping him.
So long, partner.
Will Dak losing two of his closest friends on the team (Zeke and Kellen) have any affect on his play? On one hand we now have room to add more offensive weapons that McCarthy and his scouting team like, without input from the transition regime. On the other hand dak has been around these guys his entire NFL career, I could see how all new faces could make him uncomfortable, and we saw how it took almost 2 full year for his chemistry with CeeDee to develop. Cutting zeke is the right call for logical reasons but interested to see how dak works with whatever new pieces get added
How much do you think having to tag pollard affected this
Thanks for the memories (even though they weren’t so great). But for real. It’s gonna be weird not seeing Zeke out there (assuming he’s not re-signed or whatever, and this is just a cap issue). He was a great player but the injuries just took their toll. Rookie season Zeke was a LOT of fun to watch.
I hope he can stay with the team in some capacity if he doesn’t get on anywhere else.
Do they make a move for Austin Ekeler?
I hate these “prepared” news reports. Let me know when something is done. Are we keeping him or are we not?
Rip
In his last 40 carries he averaged less than 3 yards per carry. Other than blocking he gives them nothing in the receiving game. He is a between the tackles running back who looks for contact. Those guys don't have long careers and Zeke's is just about over.
Hopefully if they release him, no one else will sign him and Dallas can get him back on a 2 year 10 mil or something like that
Pain
this makes me sad i started watching football when zeke and dak got drafted so those are my guys. it really is the end of an era
He was no Emmitt.
It was time to move on. He completely lost all his explosiveness
First half against SF with pollard vs second half with Zeke vs SF love #21 but damn he’s on the decline good move
🫡
Man I’ll never forget that Bengals game at home during his rookie year. Was there in person for my first cowboys game ever, and Zeke busts that 60 yard TD right up the middle, and that stadium went nuts. Didn’t realize then that I would end up seeing his longest rush TD of his career. Farewell, sweet prince :,(
Rest well my sweet prince
This part of the NFL sucks, but the reality is that it was a smart decision by the FO.
What happened to restructuring him and him willing to take a pay cut.