The Dallas Cowboys have begun their training camp in Oxnard, California but there is a key player absent. Ezekiel Elliott has decided to hold out of camp in hopes to receive a new deal from Dallas.

According to Jane Slater of NFL Network, Dallas is waiting for an Ezekiel Elliott counter offer. On Saturday, it was reported that the Cowboys extended a preliminary offer to Elliott and his management team.

The Cowboys star running back is entering the second-to-last year on his rookie deal. This season, Elliott is set to make just $3.8 million and next season he will make nearly $9.1 million.

With how much Elliott is used in the offense, he is trying to get a deal that likely makes him one of (if not) the highest-paid running back(s) in the NFL. As a result, expect his deal with Dallas to be around what the Arizona Cardinals gave David Johnson last offseason (three-year, $39 million).

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As for Elliott, the Cowboys offense revolves around him. His ability to make plays on the ground and through the air make him arguably the best running back. In just three seasons, Elliott has already received 1,003 touches at the running back position.

Therefore, Elliott is trying to receive a deal that provides him some insurance for his body. It's likely that he is heading into another season where he is given 350+ touches again. One point that helps Elliott is that he just turned 24-years old nearly a week ago.

With that being said, the Cowboys should be more comfortable giving Elliott a long-term extension. As for the Cowboys, Dallas will play the waiting game as they wait for Elliott to respond to their latest contract offer.