Ezekiel Elliott contract Comparing last

While the rest of the NFL is zigging, Jerry Jones has zagged.Instead of giving quarterback his coveted new contract, Jones and the Dallas Cowboys have given running back Ezekiel Elliott a six-year contract worth close to $90 Michael Beasley Jersey million. The Cowboys have not only made Elliott their highest-paid player, he has become the league's highest paid running back, overtaking All-Pro .Many will (justifiably) argue that Elliott deserves the big payday after leading in the NFL in rushing in two of his first three seasons. That being said, the fact that the Cowboys are zigging here when the majority of the NFL is zagging should be alarming to Dallas fans hoping to see their team reach a Super Bowl for the first time in nearly a quarter century. Both recent and longterm history suggests that teams don't win Super Bowls with high-priced running backs. Consider the fortunes of the teams that fielded the last 10 rushing champions.YearNameTeamBase SalaryWas he the highest paid running back?Team recordSuper Bowl title?2018$2,718,758No10-6No2017$465,000No10-6No2016Ezekiel ElliottDallas Cowboys$450,000No13-3No2015$11,000,000Yes11-5No2014Dallas Cowboys$1,406,000No12-4No2013LeSean McCoy$3,000,000No10-6No2012 Khris Middleton Jersey Adrian PetersonMinnesota Vikings$8,000,000Yes10-6No2011$4,050,000No5-11No2010$395,000No6-10No2009$385,000No8-8NoYes, having an elite running back helps you win games. Seven of the 10 teams listed above finished with a winning record while qualifying for the postseason. But none of them reached the Super Bowl, let alone a conference championship game.The 2015 Minnesota Vikings, who paid Adrian Peterson a handsome $11,000,000 salary, lost to the visiting in the wild card round of the NFC playoffs. Peterson's 2012 team was also defeated in the opening round of the playoffs.In comparison, here's a look at salaries for the last 10 Super Bowl champions' leading rusher.YearNameTeamBase Salary2018$480,0002017Philadelphia Eagles$900,0002016LeGarrette BlountNew Ray Allen Jersey England Patriots$760,0002015C.J. Anderson $585,0002014LeGarrette BlountNew England Patriots$257,6472013 Seattle Seahawks$7,000,0002012$2,000,0002011 $1,500,0002010$740,0002009 $460,000As you can see, the recent salary level for running backs on Super Bowl teams is pretty low, with Marshawn Lynch the only outlier. Unlike most of the other backs on this list, Lynch was already an established running back who wasn't playing on a rookie contract by the time he helped the Seahawks win their first Super Bowl. The Thon Maker Jersey only other player on the list who could say that is Ray Rice, who received a $15,000,000 signing bonus that year along with his $2,000,000 base salary.While Elliott may be worth paying, recent history suggests that the Cowboys would've been better served giving Elliott a more team friendly contract that would give them more cap space to sign other players.If the Cowboys win a championship with Elliott, and if he leads the league in rushing yet again, he would join Emmitt Smith (1992 and '95) and Terrell Davis (1998) as the only two rushing champions to win the Super Bowl Chris Copeland Jersey . If Dallas fails to end its Super Bowl drought, Jones might ultimately regret giving in to Zeke's demands.Elliott's succe s won't just impact the Cowboys. It will likely impact how teams pay franchise running backs going forward.