In 2019, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones signed Ezekiel Elliott to a six year, $90 million contract extension that made him the highest-paid running back in NFL history and tied him to eight-figure salary cap hits through his age 31 season in 2026. In Week 8, Elliott stood injured on the sideline as backup Tony Pollard made that deal look very, very stupid.
Pollard, drafted months before Elliott signed the pricy deal that tied him to Dallas and tied up the Cowboys’ salary sheet, shined in his fourth NFL start. He tore up the Chicago Bears’ mid-tier run defense for 131 rushing yards on only 14 carries. He added three touchdowns, including the 54-yard, third-and-one scamper that effectively shut the down on any hope of a Chicago comeback.
