Ezekiel Elliott’s reunion with the Dallas Cowboys comes lengthy after his days as a two-time dashing champion, presumably as a part of a committee of working backs.
The 2016 All-Professional is not able to accept such a task simply but.
“I feel I nonetheless am a dominant man,” Elliott informed reporters at a Cowboys charity occasion Wednesday night time, a day after signing a one-year deal price as much as $3 million. “I’ve received to go on the market and show that. That’s the motivation. I feel you all know the way I really feel about competing and leaving all of it on the market for my workforce.”
One factor will likely be completely different for positive: Elliott’s jersey quantity.
He is sticking with 15, his Ohio State quantity, and his selection for his solely season with the New England Patriots after turning into an immediate star in Dallas whereas carrying No. 21.
“I simply sort of take a look at it as a distinct period,” mentioned Elliott, who will flip 29 about the identical time the Cowboys report back to coaching camp in California in July. “Since they made the rule that working backs might put on the one digits or the teenagers, I knew I needed to modify.”
After getting drafted fourth total in 2016, Elliott teamed with quarterback Dak Prescott to create a dynamic rookie pairing that led Dallas on an 11-game profitable streak and the highest seed within the NFC playoffs.
Prescott then edged Elliott for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Yr honors after the Cowboys misplaced to Aaron Rodgers and Inexperienced Bay of their playoff debut.
The normally stoic Prescott was clearly bothered by the discharge of Elliott after seven seasons in a cost-cutting transfer final yr. It went with out saying how Prescott would react to his return.
“Tremendous excited,” Prescott mentioned. “Figuring out our historical past, my expertise with him as a brother, however on this case as a teammate. Understanding what he brings to the workforce, simply the locker room alone, the tradition he units. A man that does the whole lot the appropriate approach.”
Elliott spent final season because the backup to Rhamondre Stevenson with the Patriots however began the final 5 video games when Stephenson was injured, ending with a team-best 642 yards dashing however profession lows in touchdowns (three) and yards per carry (3.5).
Elliott rejoins a workforce that features Rico Dowdle, Elliott’s teammate from 2020-22, second-year gamers Deuce Vaughn and Hunter Luepke and one other younger, unproven again in Malik Davis. Dallas additionally added journeyman Royce Freeman this offseason.
Prescott thinks Elliott is the proper match. By no means thoughts the declining manufacturing of only one 1,000-yard season — and simply barely at 1,002 — out of the previous 4.
Does an Ezekiel Elliott reunion make sense for the Cowboys?
“He’s an actual man. He’s trustworthy,” Prescott mentioned. “He can have enjoyable when it’s time, however when it’s time to be severe and lock in, there’s no person higher than him. It’s one thing each younger man ought to observe, the best way he goes about his enterprise on the sector.”
Fueled by dashing titles in two of his first three seasons, Elliott is the third-leading rusher in franchise historical past with 8,262 yards. He trails two Professional Soccer Corridor of Famers — all-time NFL dashing chief Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett.
The three-time Professional Bowler additionally is aware of the historical past of postseason disappointment in Dallas, having made the playoffs with the Cowboys 4 instances with out getting previous the divisional spherical.
The most important shock of the Prescott period got here with out Elliott final season. The NFC East champs had been surprised by Inexperienced Bay 48-32 in a wild-card sport at residence, turning into the primary workforce in NFL historical past to win 12 video games in three consecutive seasons and never attain a convention championship sport.
“I’ve received unfinished enterprise,” Elliott mentioned. “I’m right here to chase the ring.”
Reporting by The Related Press.
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