Ezekiel Elliott Walks the Line

By Archie Nino III

My goodness. Could anyone have envisioned the jolt of life Ezekiel Elliott, last seasons leading rusher, would have had on the Cowboys?  The Ohio State Buckeye was so impactful that he was nominated for the ESPYS Best NFL Player Award. Putting up rushing lines  just shy of 1,800 yds finishing at 1,631 and 15 scores. Thus the Dallas Cowboys are in the limelight as an NFC power as it should be.

On the other side, boy, Dallas sure knows how to pick 'em. For those not familiar with the rich history of the club.. players getting in trouble is an alarming rate with the Cowboys whether it has been drafting troubled players with back history or taking a gamble on a free agent who preaches change.  Even the famous Triplets had their demons. Michael Irvin admitted drug use, to the infamous Cowboys plane ride, everythings bigger in Texas right?

If thats truly the case then please explain to me why Ezekiel Elliott hasn't figured it out and can't seem to stay out of the light. I've never been the face of a team or came close to making an NFL contract, so I won't pretend I can know what the temptations are. What I do know is to be a professional its not about your performance it's about your brand, and how you can translate to the community. Elliott has all the tools to be the best running back in the NFL for the next 5 or more years. Certainly a vital part for the 11 game win streak Dallas found themselves in last year. Behind his blend of power and finesse is a balanced diet of getting the most of every attempt.

Here's where the problems start with being "the guy". Ezekiel Elliott is young and that shouldn't be forgotten he will make mistakes it's human nature. His trouble in the NFL started last preseason during the Seattle Seahawks game. He was seen leaving a marijuana dispensary and was quickly shown how fast people will know your every move. Fast forward to this, his first, offseason and you have several run ins with the law which include speeding tickets and the more recent, yet suspended, case of the Dallas nightclub incident that left a patron bloodied and disoriented. While those are alarming perhaps none more frowned upon then the St Patricks Day debacle. Which appeared to show an alcohol fueled Elliott expose a woman's chest, not once but twice, the latter time forcing her to push him away. Althouh Ezekeil has never spent a night in jail and most likely won't. It isn't out the realm of possibility for a suspension. 

​Perhaps one or two games would be good for his psyche to ride the pine. The lights are bigger in Dallas and the media is messy and everywhere hopefully he has a team around to help reign him in and get things under control. House parties aren't bad fellas you don't gotta go to the club every night! On a serious note Ezekiel means as much to the Cowboys as current QB Dak Prescott and the pace he's set has my ears as I'm sure everyone in the Cowboys organization pointed upwards. We have all the pieces to make a considerable run but let's not forget David Irving is gone for 4 games, Nolan Carroll had a D.U.I arrest, and rookie CB Jourdan Lewis has his trial for domestic abuse later this week. An Ezekiel Elliott suspension would be detrimental for playoff implications so I ask. Whats the best ability for a football player to have? Availability. Til next time #CowboysNation.