FRISCO (105.3 The Fan) - It is the stated public position of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones that star running back Ezekiel Elliott's "Vegas Video'' isn't worthy of "consequences,'' a position that sources tell me has ruffled the feathers of NFL higher-ups.
Maybe Cowboys running backs coach Gary Brown's position will massage those feathers back into place.
It’s a situation you don’t want to be in, but we all make mistakes,” said Brown after Wednesday's OTA workout here inside The Star. “Even the greatest leaders make mistakes. We have to be understanding of that. ... We have talked to him about doing better and moving forward.''
The "mistake''? A recent 3 a.m. conflict in Las Vegas that ended up on video, showing Elliott eventually being handcuffed by police. He was not arrested and no charges have been filed. But I'm told the NFL is investigating the situation in accordance with its personal conduct policy -- the same policy that put Elliott's behavior in the spotlight in 2017 when the NFL handed him that contested and controversial six-game suspension.
Part of Jones' position, as he responded to my question about Elliott's otherwise exemplary behavior this offseason, is about the good being achieved by Elliott outweighing the bad (or at least what the NFL judged to be "bad,'' as law enforcement officials never have arrested Elliott for any infraction). And indeed, his charity work, his efforts as an unofficial mascot of the NHL's Dallas Stars and his gesture to pay for the funeral of a slain teen in St. Louis figure to earn him points here -- maybe to the degree that he only receives a fine as a result of the Vegas incident.
Said Brown: "We can’t beat him down for that (negative in Las Vegas). Obviously, we don’t want him in that situation. We talked to him and move on. He understands, ‘I can’t put myself in that position. I have got to be smarter.’ We all make mistakes.”
Meanwhile, Elliott's on-field work has continues at the highest level. The two-time NFL rushing champ continues to rank as arguably the team's best player, and Brown and young teammates say, one of its best leaders, too. Rookie Tony Pollard told reporters on Wednesday that Zeke has led the "bonding'' effort in the position group.
“He’s done a great job with all the running backs, just getting us together, having us over to his house for cookouts, and just bonding,” Pollard said. “In here he’s been helping us with little pointers and things we can sharpen up and get our game better with.”
Added Brown: “He has been a great leader, great with the young guys. He is an awesome dude, a big-brother type with the young guys.”
