Zeke can play! Good or bad news for the Cowboys?

The Dallas Cowboys’ drama continues as Zeke was just granted a temporary restraining order halting his once-imminent suspension. But is this good news?

The Dallas Cowboys learned last night Ezekiel Elliott will be allowed to play against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. After seeing the preliminary injunction vacated in New Orleans last week, the U.S. district judge in New York ordered a temporary restraining order, clearing the way until the next hearing can be scheduled.

This kind of move says nothing about what the final decision will be. Rather, it kicks the can another week or so until real discussions resume. It’s entirely possible we’ll be back down this road in the next two weeks causing many to wonder what kind of toll this is taking on Ezekiel Elliott’s psyche and the Dallas Cowboys ability to properly game plan.

Good News or Bad News?

No one is going to argue Alfred Morris and/or Darren McFadden are as talented as the defending NFL rushing leader. Granted, as former repeat 1000 yard rushers themselves, they aren’t chopped liver either, but they aren’t the game-breakers Zeke is.

Then again, Zeke isn’t the game-breaker he was last season either. This on-again/off-again suspension thing with the NFL is taking a toll on the Cowboys’ RB1 and it’s not hard to imagine why.

This situation is nothing short of a psychological nightmare.  Zeke has gone the last four months not knowing what’s going to happen.  He doesn’t know when he can put this all behind him and move forward and those effects cannot be minimized. Additionally, professional athletes are players of habit and repetition. When something disrupts the routine, things go off track.

Zeke is struggling physically and mentally and it’s not likely to get better until this is resolved. Does that mean he should just give up the fight and take the punishment whether it’s fair or not?

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Yes.

Look, the Cowboys were never going to win this battle against the NFL. They could delay the inevitable but they couldn’t win. That’s how much power Roger Goodell has. I fully supported the restraining order at the start because at 0-0 coming off a 13-3 season, the Dallas Cowboys had legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. Now after starting 2-3…not so much.

The Super Bowl is still a possibility it’s just statistically less likely now. Think of it this way: Do you think the Cowboys have a better shot at winning the Super Bowl this year, standing with a losing record and in third place in the NFC East?

Or do you think they have a better shot next year, where they start with a more seasoned defense and a blank slate?

I don’t know about you but I’m sick of fighting this unwinnable battle. It’s already potentially ruined one season, it would be disastrous if it ruined next season as well.

It’s not as if Zeke was lighting up the NFL anyway. He’s struggled, and the delta between him and Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden has never been (and likely will never be again) narrower.

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The Dallas Cowboys CAN win without Zeke so this isn’t a white flag on the entire season. It’s a calculated move to grow and focus on tomorrow rather than be slaves to yesterday. What say you?