Following the release of Ezekiel Elliott from the Dallas Cowboys in March, former player Emmitt Smith recently expressed his opinion that the team should continue its relationship with the running back.
In the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, the Cowboys selected Ohio State running back at number four overall, yet they let him go in the offseason due to his $10.9 million non-guaranteed base salary in 2023 which would have put him at a cost of $16.7 million.
Why does Smith believe the Cowboys should retain Ezekiel Elliott?
Elliott’s return to his former team is still uncertain, but Hall of Fame running back Smith believes the team should bring back their veteran RB.
“I think Dallas needs to bring [Ezekiel Elliott] back if they can,” he said.
Emmitt Smith thinks the @dallascowboys should re-sign Ezekiel Elliott 😳 pic.twitter.com/DclMrimLnC
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) May 4, 2023
The 53-year-old previously advocated for Ezekiel’s return, claiming the team really needs him. More recently, he reiterated his position in response to Tony Pollard’s injury. With less than two minutes left in the first half of the NFC Divisional Round against the San Francisco 49ers, Pollard was tackled and broke his left leg and sustained a high ankle sprain.
Since Pollard is currently the team’s undisputed No. 1 running back on the depth chart after Elliot’s release by Dallas, Smith is understandably very concerned about both Pollard’s injury and the team’s future.
“With the uncertainty of Pollard and being the Tony Pollard that we all know – that is yet to be seen. Until that has proven itself out and he’s healthy enough to get out there and carry the football and be some form of who he used to be, that is my biggest concern,” he said.
Zeke has seen nearly 4,000 yards on 868 attempts, 28 running touchdowns, 135 receptions for 1,199 yards, and six more points, though he experienced difficulty in the final three regular-season games of his Cowboys career, totaling just 63 yards.
The 27-year-old has carried the ball for 8,262 yards over the course of his first seven seasons, moving him up to position 45 on the league’s all-time list. Smith, who is supporting Ezekiel, is the leading rusher in NFL history, who came close to his final total of 10,000 yards.
The Cowboys have been open about the prospect of re-signing Eze this summer, as team owner Jerry Jones previously stated, and now their former legendary player has also spoken out twice in favor of the running back. So, if everything goes as planned, we can hope to see him back on the Cowboys roster.
