Ezekiel Elliott needs at least 3 wishes.
A “wishlist” of teams Elliott would like to play for was leaked online Thursday after being cut from the Cowboys, but the interest appears to be mutual.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted a report Thursday that Elliott, 27, had “narrowed his options of where to play” to the Bengals, Eagles and Jets, but so far none of those teams have actually played. It seems that he did not offer him a contract.
Bengals head coach Zach Taylor was asked about the report by local ABC affiliate WCPO-TV and hinted that he had never heard of Shefter’s tweet.
“There are a lot of great players available right now,” Taylor said with a smile. “We like the team we have now. But it’s always interesting when things are scattered. Sometimes it’s the first time I hear it. But that’s how life works.”
Cincinnati lost in free agency to Samaje Perin’s running back to the Denver Broncos, and Joe Mixon’s future is up in the air amid lingering release rumors.
Bengals general manager Duke Tobin recently responded, “I don’t know,” when asked if Mixon would join the team in 2023.
Still, if Taylor’s comments were accurate, the team would never have considered or offered to sign Elliott at all.
The Eagles are also not interested at all.
NBC Philadelphia reported on thursday That the Eagles “haven’t had a conversation” with their former divisional rival running back, and that they’re “happy with the running back they have now.”
“The Eagles, Bengals and Jets are on Ezekiel Elliott’s wish list and seem to be where he wants to play,” the outlet reported.
Philadelphia signed former Seahawks running back Rashard Penney to a one-year, $1.3 million deal when free agency opened, and the roster still has Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott.
Which leaves the Jets.
New York’s Brass has yet to comment on his interest in Elliott, and salary cap issues will come into play as the team continues negotiations with the Packers over a trade of Aaron Rodgers.
The problem can go beyond that.
Shortly after Shefter posted this tweet, Jets star and running back Brice Hall tweeted a message to fellow rusher Michael Carter, which he quickly deleted. With a yawning emoji.
So this is a 0-3 for the team the former All-Pro wanted to play for to get him paid.
After seven years as a professional, he has been less productive in the past three years, and 2022, the first year of his career, recorded less than 1,000 yards of scrimmagnet and averaged less than 4 yards per carry. was.
His lack of production coincided with fellow Dallas driving back Tony Pollard’s breakout.
Despite Pollard suffering a horrific ankle injury against the 49ers in the Cowboys’ divisional round loss against the 49ers, the team chose to release Elliott with a franchise tag on him.
Elliott, who was released early from a massive six-year, $90 million contract extension he signed in 2019, looks like he’ll have to expand his wish list.
