19 March 2023 , 22:54
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NFL icon Emmitt Smith has hit out at the Dallas Cowboys and the wide league for having ‘no love’ for players like Ezekiel Elliott.
On Wednesday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones confirmed Elliott was being released by the franchise with which the running back spent each of his seven NFL seasons so far. Dallas selected Elliott with the fourth overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, and he led the league in rushing yards per game for three successive seasons between 2016 and 2018.
The three-time Pro Bowler also led the NFL in rushing yards on two occasions, in 2016 and 2018. However, he endured a down season in 2022 and became the second-fiddle behind Tony Pollard in the Cowboys’ rushing attack meaning he is coming off career lows in rushing attempts, rushing yards and rushing average, although he did manage to score 12 touchdowns as a this past season.
Elliott’s contract and health played a part in the decision to let him go. In 2019, he signed a six-year contract extension worth $90million in 2019 - but he has declined since. A knee injury sidelined him for two games last season, and he wore a brace for the rest of the year after returning.
The decision clearly affected the former Cowboys great Smith, who pointed out the NFL is ultimately a business while sending messages of support to Elliott. The 27-year-old was reportedly a positive influence on the Dallas locker room so Smith is sad to see him go.
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“Wow, this is amazing to me-no disrespect to Malik Davis,” Smith posted on his social channels. “Our starting running back is gone, and his backup has a broken leg? The NFL stands for not for long. Everyone else, go get your money because they have no love for you.
Ezekiel Elliott was selected by the Dallas Cowboys fourth overall in the 2016 NFL Draft (Getty Images North America)“It don't make sense and this is one of those things that make you shack [sic] your head. Thank you Z for giving everything you have including plan [sic] injured all of last year. This is why, the NFL stands for not the law. Everybody else go get your money because they have no love for you.”
According to Over the Cap, the move is expected to save the Cowboys more than $10m while the franchise tagged Pollard. The franchise tag guaranteed the 25-year-old a one-year tender at $10.1m.
Elliott is one of the best running backs in the Cowboys’ storied history. He has racked up 8,262 rushing yards in his career, which places him third on the all-time list in rushing for the franchise behind a pair of Hall of Famers in Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett.