Stop me if you've heard this before:

Ezekiel Elliott is in line for a contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys.

That's far from headline news, but what continues to be such is the rumor that Elliott is planning to hold out in 2019 to assure he gets one right now. Such was the report initially floated by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, who initially stated the two-time All-Pro running back would not report to voluntary OTAs absent a finalized deal. Elliott wound up reporting to OTAs as planned and expected, and subsequently mandatory minicamp as well. With news of Melvin Gordon locking horns with the Los Angeles Chargers for a new deal, the climate seems ripe for additional speculation on what Elliott will or will not do this summer.

To that end, Florio now reports that although Elliott showed up for OTAs — despite his initial report — and that the two-time NFL rushing champ has "privately" decided to hold out of training camp.

Aside from the goal post moving, there's a much more intricate web of reality when it comes to Elliott's status with the Cowboys. The relationship between the two sides is as strong as it's ever been, and the mutual expectation was that a longterm deal would likely land in 2020, and for good reason. With defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence now in the books with a landmark five-year, $105 million extension, the team has turned its attention to quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver Amari Cooper, with neither being under contract beyond the 2019 season.

Elliott is, however, by virtue of the team exercising his fifth-year option for 2020.

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That's basic chronology, and has nothing to do with how the Cowboys feel about Elliott's value, already making it clear he'll wind up being the highest-paid RB in the history of the league — per owner Jerry Jones. It would make sense they'd press on with Prescott and Cooper, to prevent them from hitting the free agency market one year from now. For Elliott, who is also set to earn $9.10 million in 2020, it's more about simply ensuring talks continue to progress toward the agreed-upon goal, and not having already drawn lines in the sand with his toe that read "pay me now or else".

I've gotten no indication from anyone I've spoken with that Elliott has his mind made up on a holdout situation.

This is confirmed by a recent report from Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports, who also affirms the soon-to-be 24-year-old hasn't made any type of decision on sitting out of training camp, but instead wants to gauge the progress of his contract talks with the Cowboys — making sure things are beginning to pick up steam. Robinson furthers that Elliott and his representatives will look to have fruitful July conversations with the team, and that the lines of communication remain as open as they've ever been on all sides.

A deal for Elliott landing ahead of schedule certainly wouldn't be the worst thing for anyone involved, but much like the discussion heading into OTAs, let's put a pin in the seemingly fluid rumors of an ultimatum.

At least for now, because at the time of this article going to print, there hasn't been one issued.