Stephen Jones: Cowboys 'not going to be a market-setter'

The Dallas Cowboys plan to keep Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott, and Amari Cooper together, but not by handing them record-setting contracts.

"We've got three really good football players that we're dealing with here and that have very good representation, and they want to see the market," Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said Wednesday on 1310 The Ticket, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic.

"We can't push the issue unless we want to be a market-setter," he continued. "And we're damn sure not going to be a market-setter, because of all the things that go with being a Dallas Cowboy."

As of Wednesday afternoon, Dallas wasn't close to an agreement with Elliott, the only member of the trio who's holding out, a source told Jane Slater of NFL Network.

How close is this Zeke deal to getting done? A source informed told me, "close? Nope." So, what are the sticking points? The guarantee? Length? "Everything" #ZekeWatch

- Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) July 31, 2019

The two-time rushing champion is reportedly training on his own in Mexico while the rest of the Cowboys are at training camp in Oxnard, Calif. There are two years left on Elliott's rookie deal.

"We want to be fair," said Jones. "We want our players to feel good about their contract. But at the same time, we don't want to do things that are out of line because we can't afford to be that way. Whether it's Dak, whether it's Amari, whether it's Zeke, they all understand we've got a whole group of young players coming behind them that want to be Dallas Cowboys and want to stay here.

"When we save money, whether it's with Dak, whether it's with Zeke, whether it's with Amari, it's not saving Jerry and I a dollar. It's just money that's going to go to another player."

The Cowboys have touted Prescott as a franchise quarterback since his rookie year, and they acquired Cooper from the Oakland Raiders for a first-round pick last season, giving both players immense leverage.

Elliott, meanwhile, has been the backbone of the team's offense throughout his first three seasons in the league.

"Do we like it? Of course not," Jones said of Elliott's holdout. "Do we think there's a better way to handle things? We do. Are we focused and convicted on getting Zeke a contract? We are."

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