The franchise tag deadline has come and gone and the Dallas Cowboys didn't give running back Tony Pollard a long-term deal.

Pollard and a great 2022 season with his first 1,000-yard season and Pro Bowl nod after getting more involved in the offensive game plan. With the huge financial commitment to Ezekiel Elliott not being worth it anymore, the Cowboys put all their eggs in the Pollard basket.

Unfortunately, Pollard suffered a broken leg in the Cowboys' playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers in January. So that means that Pollard has to show that he can bounce back from this setback and be available, and of course, an effective player, which is tough because injuries aren't under his control nor is it for any player for that matter. 

Pollard is now the man in Dallas when it comes to running backs, but he's about to experience what Elliott did for years, huge expectations. 

It's been known for quite some time that Pollard was a dynamic player and one that brought tremendous value to the Cowboys' offense. However, his workload is about to take an uptick, especially considering there doesn't seem to be anyone that can give him relief the way he did for Elliott, but Pollard will still be expected to produce at an even higher level than he did before if he wants his lucrative contract.

Dallas not giving Pollard a long-term deal now has nothing to do with a lack of faith in Pollard. It's called smart business and the Cowboys are just covering all of their tracks, which is what any team would do.

Pollard's situation is different from Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants and Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders. He's signed his franchise tag for $10.1 million so he's contractually obligated to show up to training camp next week. 

If the injury gods are good to Pollard, another huge season will follow, that's pretty easy to predict. Then, the Cowboys won't have a choice but to bring in the Brinks truck for Pollard or go in another direction. 

Recent Cowboys news shows they might’ve learned their lesson after all

Strategic maneuvering here.

Feature image via Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports