JULY 17: Josina Anderson of CBS Sports tweets that talks are still ongoing between team and player in this situation, which could leave the door open to an eleventh-hour agreement. However, the Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins and Michael Gehlken add (via Twitter and Threads) that Pollard can still be expected to play out the 2023 season on the tag.
JULY 16: Cowboys running back Tony Pollard was the only one of the franchise tagged running backs to report to team activities after signing his tag back in March. This still left the door open for Pollard and Dallas to work towards a long-term extension, but according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, it’s seeming unlikely that the two sides will reach a new deal by tomorrow’s 3pm central deadline. Pollard will play out the 2023 season on the $10.09MM franchise tag. 
Despite the team tagging Pollard and the veteran back signing the tag, the team made it clear that they weren’t planning on Pollard playing out next season on a one-year tryout. Pollard wisely chose to take the money in hand while still keeping the possibility of a new deal open in the future. It was established early that Dallas would continue working towards a new deal with Pollard, albeit not one quite as lengthy as the one they gave Ezekiel Elliott.
Elliott’s six-year, $90MM extension was cut short with four seasons remaining when the team designated him as a post-June 1 cut. In order to avoid making the same mistakes twice, the Cowboys were reportedly eyeing an extension for a term of closer to three or four years for Pollard. Even if they weren’t going to dedicate a long-term deal to him, a medium-term extension was still in the cards for the 26-year-old.
Fortunately, because Pollard signed the tag, the two sides have an additional eight months to work out the terms of a possible extension. In the meantime, Pollard will play out the year under the guaranteed money of the franchise tag. If the Cowboys fail to extend Pollard, they’re unlikely to tag him in consecutive years, so this season should result in a new contract for Pollard, regardless. Whether that contract is a re-signing with Dallas or a new deal in free agency will be determined down the road.
No reason for either party to sign a longer contract until the market is reset. Owners have TP under the tag in 2023 and TP will play the field after the dust settles with the other top backs. Just good business both ways.
Pollard suffered a very serious injury – thus it makes sense from the Cowboys perspective to see if he’s still the same player before making yet another mistake on a long-term deal.
The tag is a guaranteed $10 million, that is a nice piece of change for a player who to this point in his 4 year career has made only $3.9 million. Coming off the injury he should be thrilled that the Cowboys gave him this money and the opportunity to make more money if he is still healthy to play. It is a win-win for Pollard and the organization.
The bigger story is whether Ezekiel Elliott will be on an NFL roster this year
I think he will be, I think he is a likely candidate for a late season addition. I think he is smart enough to know that his services are going to be needed by a team at some point in the season. He has the stats, he has been paid very well, the only thing he is missing from his resume is the One Ring. I do not think he needs to be on a roster Week 1, I think he should wait until a contender loses a RB to injury and then sign on with them. I think he should try to chase a ring at this point in his career. I’ve never rooted for him personally but Zeke can still punch it in on the goal line.