When asked about the status of Zeke Elliott’s contract holdout and the impressive performance of rookie running back Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones quipped, “Zeke who?”
Jones later clarified that he was simply cracking a joke at Zeke’s expense.
Evidently, Zeke was not amused.
“I didn’t think it was funny and neither did Zeke, we actually thought it was disrespectful,” agent Rocky Arceneaux told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen on Monday.
As of Monday, Elliott has not reported to training camp and is subject to nearly $1 million in fines for being a no-show. Zeke is currently under contract on a five-year deal that will pay him $3.8 million in 2019 and $9m million in 2020.
Whether or not Jones’ comments will damper contract negotiations is yet to be seen. Elliott is currently the 10th highest-paid running back in the NFL based on average salary per year at $6,239,085.
