Ezekiel Elliott got his wish. Now that the Dallas Cowboys have compensated him as the highest-paid running back in football, the Dallas Cowboys star hardly minced words when asked why he sought that distinction in contract negotiations.
“Because I believe I’m the best,” Elliott said, per ESPN’s Todd Archer.
On Wednesday, Elliott signed a six-year, $90 million deal with the Cowboys that includes $50 in guarantees. His new contract eclipses that of the Los Angeles Rams Todd Gurley, who inked a four-year, $57.5 million contract, including $45 million worth of guarantees, in July of last year.
There was ample speculation over the past few days that Elliott and Dallas would come to an agreement on a new contract before the team’s season-opener against the New York Giants on Sunday. Though the fourth-year pro missed all of training camp and each of the Cowboys’ preseason games while holding out for a contract that reflects his standing as one of the league’s best players, Elliott won’t be approaching the remainder of this week any differently than he normally would.
“I think I’m just going to approach it as a normal week. You still have to be fresh by Sunday,” he said. “It is a long season. So don’t want to try to overdo it and risk injury.”
Elliott’s holdout began on the eve of training camp. In his stead, rookie running back Tony Pollard proved himself worthy of a feature role in the backfield, giving Dallas another weapon offensively now that Elliott has returned.
A two-time Pro Bowler, Ezekiel Elliott led the NFL in rushing last season with 1,434 yards.
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