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Former Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott Announces His Retirement

The Dallas Cowboys have made some significant changes this offseason in an effort to bounce back from their ugly 2024 campaign. While the hiring of Brian Schottenheimer as head coach and the big trade for star wide receiver George Pickens will turn heads, the Cowboys also revamped their running back room after struggling to get consistent production from this position last year.

After losing Tony Pollard in free agency, Dallas relied primarily on Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott out of the backfield. Dowdle signed with the Carolina Panthers in free agency, with the Cowboys bringing in Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders to replace him. Elliott, on the other hand, is still a free agent, and it sounds like retirement may be in the cards for him as training camp approaches.

Ezekiel Elliott Reportedly Contemplating Retirement

Dallas Cowboys' Ezekiel Elliott suspended for six games but could launch  appeal | NFL News | Sky Sports

Elliott broke into the league with the Cowboys as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, and he immediately looked set to become one of the top running backs in the game. As a rookie, Elliott racked up a league-leading 1,631 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground, while also catching 32 passes for 363 yards and another score. That production earned him Pro Bowl and All-Pro First Team honors.

Over the ensuing eight seasons, though, Elliott never managed to reach those heights again. He earned a pair of Pro Bowl selections in 2018 and 2019, but his production gradually declined to the point where he lost his starting job to Pollard in 2022. Elliott spent the 2023 season with the New England Patriots, showing he had some juice left in the tank, but after latching on with the Cowboys again for the 2024 season, Elliott struggled and was eventually released in December.

While Elliott latched on with the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad to close out the year, they ultimately decided not to keep him around. In free agency, Elliott has yet to draw much interest, although that could change once training camp officially arrives. If he doesn’t find his way to another team, though, it sounds like the former Ohio State Buckeyes star could opt to call it a career.

“With no reported interest in free agency thus far, former Dallas Cowboys star RB Ezekiel Elliott could retire after 9 seasons in the NFL,” Sportskeeda reported in a post on X.

Should Cowboys Consider Bringing Ezekiel Elliott Back to Town?

The Dallas Cowboys have been dubbed as a top landing spot for Ezekiel Elliott.

The 2024 season was a rough one for Elliott, as he quickly lost his starting job to Dowdle and ended up turning in the least productive season of his career (74 carries, 226 yards, three touchdowns). Even though the two sides mutually agreed to part ways at the end of last season, Elliott has been linked to the Cowboys throughout free agency, so a reunion could be on the table.

At this stage of the game, though, it would have to be considered unlikely. With Williams and Sanders leading the way, there isn’t much room for Elliott to make an impact. The coaching staff would also likely prefer to give those additional touches to fifth-round rookie Jaydon Blue and Deuce Vaughn, who has flashed big-play potential early in his career. Elliott could land elsewhere, but as of right now, it’d be a surprise if he found his way back to Dallas.

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Packers' Star QB Refuses MVP Title to Fully Focus on Team in Tough Phase
Can you believe it? Jordan Love, the "red-hot" quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, is on track to compete for MVP with +1000 odds at DraftKings – but this guy is "refusing" personal glory to pour all his energy into the team struggling with a "hellish" schedule! Is this a heroic act or just a ploy? Read now to uncover the "truth" behind it! In the Super Bowl era, the Packers have produced three MVP legends: Bart Starr (1966), Brett Favre (1995-1997), and Aaron Rodgers (2011, 2014, 2020, 2021). Now, Jordan Love has a chance to become the fourth, putting the Packers on par with the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts – the only team with four QB MVPs like Johnny Unitas, Earl Morrall, Bert Jones, and Peyton Manning. With his current "explosive" form, Love ranks fourth in the NFL for passer rating (105.4), tied for fifth in touchdown passes (22), with only four interceptions – the fewest among QBs starting all 13 games, and a 67.1% completion rate ranking seventh. But instead of "dreaming" of MVP, Love seems to be "rejecting" it! In a recent interview, he emphasized: "These are the most important games of the season, obviously with a lot of things coming down to playoff seeding and the division race, so this is the important football. I think it’s everybody, we keep stacking and keep getting better and better throughout the season and learn from the mistakes we make and overcome some of the obstacles. Just keep stacking and trying to find ways to get better every day is something that’s been helping us." These words are like a clear "declaration": Love doesn't care about MVP, but only wants to focus on the team in its "tough phase" with a 9-3-1 record, trailing the Rams (10-3) in the NFC. Head coach Matt LaFleur also "sings along": "Yeah, he’s playing really good football right now. That’s obviously important and it’s going to be important moving forward." And offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich praises the consistency: "I would say just the consistency that he’s had has been great... Just being a consistent, efficient quarterback is one thing that I’ve been really pleased with." But it's Packers defensive end Micah Parsons who "reveals" why Love deserves but is "overlooking" MVP: "I definitely think he deserves recognition... If you go off strength of schedule, how he's played and with him missing half his receivers, I think that goes unnoticed, too. Some of the things he did without (Christian Watson) early in the year, then (Jayden Reed), so this guy was missing two of his starting receivers majority of the year and they're just now getting back in these last eight weeks of the stretch, so I definitely think he deserves a lot more credit and I'm just happy I'm able to be a part of this journey with him." Currently, Matthew Stafford of the Rams leads the MVP race with -180 odds, 35 touchdown passes (far ahead of Dak Prescott with 26), passer rating 113.1, and only four interceptions. Drake Maye of the Patriots follows with +200, passer rating 111.9, 3,412 passing yards, and 23 touchdowns. Love, with a four-game winning streak (nine touchdowns, one interception, passer rating 112.1), could stage a comeback if he maintains "red-hot form" – especially in the upcoming two "epic" games: away at Denver (11-2) and Chicago (9-4). If the Packers leap to the NFC's No. 1 seed (likely needing a 4-0 finish), while the Rams stumble against Detroit (8-5) and Seattle (10-3), or the Patriots slip against Buffalo (9-4) and Baltimore (6-7), Love would have a shot at MVP. But with his "humble" attitude, does Love really want to "accept" that title? Or is he sacrificing personally to save the Packers from the "tough phase"? The 2025 NFL drama is "hotter than ever"! Do you think Love is "playing a trick" to motivate the team? Comment now and follow for the "shocking" outcome of the MVP race!