Felger & Mazz: Yes or No on Ezekiel Elliott?
The New England Patriots reportedly had free agent running back, Source: 2x All-Pro RB Ezekiel Elliott is visiting the #Patriots today. This could impact the RB-needy AFC East, as well as the Dalvin Cook derby, since he and Elliott are considered the top backs available. Zeke looked terrific in the videos he posted of his workouts. pic.twitter.com/Qe62DFGc0r
Yes or No on Elliott?
Felger: Meanwhile, I haven’t asked you this yet: thumbs up or thumbs down on Ezekiel Elliott?
Mazz: Up.
Jim Murray: Up. In.
Felger: Out. Thumbs down.
Jim Murray: Who could have saw that coming?
Mazz: Even if he costs nothing?
Felger: Yes. Even if he costs nothing.
Mazz: He’s going to cost very little.
Felger: Well let me ask this, Rhamondre Stephenson makes $1,000,000, are they going to pay him more than the starting running back?
Mazz: Probably not.
Felger: Okay, so can you get him for $775,000? What’s the veteran minimum?
Mazz: I bet you that’s what they offered.
Felger: Okay. So, Ezekiel Elliott on the veteran minimum.
Jim Murray: And so let me just say this. Like, here’s my reasoning….
Felger: It’s going to take more than that, by the way.

Oct 10, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) carries the ball against the New York Giants in the third quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Jim Murray: Because I was no on Leonard Fournette, so why am I in on Ezekiel Elliott? Because it’s at this point I now know because if you’re sniffing around guys like this and Leonard Fournette, you’re not going to be in on top shelf players like Dalvin Cook. So if you’re going to go bargain basement shopping, at least bring in a name like Zeke Elliott, even though he’s kind of washed. Because I think this team desperately needs some buzz. He brings buzz and he can help him on the goal line.
Mazz: I think this is the perfect guy for Bill to sign when he’s washed up. Another guy with a big name that Bill can buddy up to and rub shoulders with and develop a relationship with so that he can say, you know, in his own little retirement party that Zeke Elliott can get an invitation or something. I think he gets off on that, like the guy who used to be a star player and I still think you can play and be a role player on my team, he gets off on it. The guy’s not that good.
Jim Murray: He’s 28. If you told me he was 35, I would have believed you.
Mazz: Seriously, talk about a guy who, like, got punished right out of the league. Because that’s what this guy is. But again, if he’s a goal line guy, how does that hurt them?
Felger: How does it help him? Why do they need Ezekiel Elliott on the goal line?
Mazz: Just to take hits away from Stephenson.
Felger: Find some nobody. Find Harry Schmedlap to go take hits away from Rhamondre Stephenson. Why do you have to sign a guy with this kind of name, this kind of reputation, I don’t mean that necessarily bad, I mean it bad and good. I mean just the bandwidth taken up by a guy that’s your backup running back, which should be the most disposable of disposable spots on the football team. It’s just sort of a distraction that is unnecessary at an unnecessary position.
Mazz: Yeah. I mean, I don’t think it’s that much of a distraction because I don’t think he’s all that good anymore.
Jim Murray: Same. But it adds juice and buzz and this team I think kind of needs it. They need like a name to get people talking. This guy will get people talking if he’s scoring like vulturing touchdowns from Rhamondre Stephenson at the goal line.