Ezekiel Elliott discusses motivation for Dallas Cowboys return

[big dog cowboy]

Veteran running back Ezekiel Elliott discussed why he decided to return to the Dallas Cowboys after spending one year away with the New England Patriots.
Josh Sanchez
7/28/2024

Elliott is on the tail end of his career and spent the past season with the New England Patriots, but he is eager to help in Big D. Zeke, who is still loved by the fans, discussed why he decided to return to Dallas and his goals for the upcoming season.

It comes down to one thing: unfinished business.

"I think it was important for me to come back because I had unfinished business," Elliott said, via DallasCowboys.com "I felt like I wanted to come back and be with my guys and take another spin at it."

https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/news/ezekiel-elliott-motivation-dallas-cowboys-2024-return

 

[acr731]

Or maybe he's hoping he can fleece Jerry for one more big contract?

 

[shabazz]

.............no longer having to play in the Foxboro snow in december

 

[The Quest for Six]

UNfinished business????? Please Zeke, the ONLY reason why you're on the Cowboys is because no other team was going to sign you other than Jerry

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

UNfinished business????? Please Zeke, the ONLY reason why you're on the Cowboys is because no other team was going to sign you other than Jerry

That's the spirit!

 

[MountaineerCowboy]

He got a taste of accountability ball in New England.

I'm sure he missed the county club in Dallas.

 

[Coogiguy03]

UNfinished business????? Please Zeke, the ONLY reason why you're on the Cowboys is because no other team was going to sign you other than Jerry

Post of the morning!!!!!!!!!! Oh and i'm sure his best bud Dak lobbied for him to be here as a part of him signing a deal to stay here!! lol

 

[Ranching]

Or maybe he's hoping he can fleece Jerry for one more big contract?

Nah....he just wants to piss off the negative fans that can't bring themselves to say anything positive.

 

[JW82]

Because they were the only team that thought he could still play. Not a tough decision.

 

[DallasEast]

From the article:

The running back room includes Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, Royce Freeman, Malik Davis, Snoop Conner, and Nathaniel Peat.

Despite any criticism he faces, Ezekiel Elliott steps into a situation where he clearly overshadows everyone at his position. That was not the case neither at the tail end of his first chapter in Dallas with Tony Pollard nor when he shared the running back room with Rhamondre Stevenson in New England.

He will share carries but he is the Cowboys undisputed number one back right now. How much Elliott will be used in that distinction is the real question.

During the 2022 season (link), Elliott averaged 15 carries a game, with a high of 22 carries in an early October win against the Rams and a low of eight carries versus Washington in Week 18. He missed back-to-back games versus the Bears and Packers after suffering a knee injury playing the Lions (link).

In contrast, Elliott's attempts decreased to just under 11 carries per game the following season with the Patriots. HIs usage would have been lower if not for Stevenson spraining his right ankle in the first quarter versus the Chargers in Week 13. Before that pivotal game, Elliott carried the ball under nine times a game, with a high of 16 times against the Jets in mid-September. His lowest number of attempts were five against the Dolphins. He carried the rock against the Cowboys and Washington six times each.

However, Elliott's carries increased after Stevenson went down--averaging just under 15 attempts per game. As the number one back, Elliott ran the most against the Steelers 22 times. HIs lowest post-Stevenson usage was 11 carries against the Chiefs. In that matchup, Bill Belichick's gameplan kept the game close at halftime, limiting Patrick Mahomes to a single touchdown pass in the first half. The third quarter was all-Chiefs though, widening their lead to 27-10. New England's inept passing attack only sucked away Elliott's second half rushing attempts.

Elliott benefitted from less wear-and-tear early last season. He was much fresher when he took over as the starter late in the season. Not sure how Mike McCarthy, Brian Schottenheimer and Jeff Blasko will gameplan Elliott but they should take note how Elliott was utilized in 2023--both as a starter and backup,

 

[acr731]

Nah....he just wants to piss off the negative fans that can't bring themselves to say anything positive.

Apparently you forgot many of the negative things you said back in the Garrett era..... Negativity was allowed back then, right?

 

[Coogiguy03]

Because they were the only team that thought he could still play. Not a tough decision.

The goal line touchdowns and short yardage makes them happy going forward

 

[shabazz]

He got a taste of accountability ball in New England.

I'm sure he missed the county club in Dallas.

Jerry needed somebody on the cheap and Zeke wanted to skate to retirement.

Win- win for those guys. For the fans though?, not so much

 

[ShortRound]

Only team that would take him lol

 

[CATCH17]

Country Club signing.

Nothing more.

 

[Ranching]

Apparently you forgot many of the negative things you said back in the Garrett era..... Negativity was allowed back then, right?

They was a running joke...apparently, it went over your head. I didn't like Garrett, but I never rooted against him.

 

[DoctorChicken]

 

[JW82]

The goal line touchdowns and short yardage makes them happy going forward

We'll see. Hope so.

 

[jwitten82]

Lol like he had teams fighting over him. It was either Dallas or retirement

 

[nobody]

Zeke isn't fleecing the team this time. He plays hard and is a great blocker. Yeah, he's lost a step but since there were all sorts of needs all over the team during the draft, it's not as if we had a plethora of less expensive options. The RB goes as the O-line goes more often than not and Zeke can block too. Will we get explosiveness from him? Doubtful but adding him to the stable couldn't hurt. It's not like we're getting to the SB this year with Dak under center anyway.