San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Elliott tells critics to put ‘RESPECT’ on name and game
DALLAS — While the spotlight in the Dallas Cowboys' world the past few days remained on Dak Prescott and his non-extension, Ezekiel Elliott has been keeping his eyes (and ears) elsewhere.
During the past few weeks, Elliott's on-field performance following his holdout ahead of the 2019 season has drawn some criticism from football minds around the country.
Elliott addressed some of those opinions in a series of tweets Thursday.
“Check the stats. Since I entered this league I have dominated year in, year out. Put some RESPECT on my name,” Elliott wrote.
“Women lie. Men lie. The stats don't. Go do your homework.”
In Elliott's first four seasons in Dallas since being drafted in 2016, he has compiled 5,405 yards and 40 touchdowns on the ground as a ball carrier while adding another 1,619 yards and eight touchdowns as a receiver.
Elliott has won two rushing titles, been to three Pro Bowls, and is one of only three running backs in NFL history to have at least 7,000 scrimmage yards, 40 rushing touchdowns and 150 receptions in their first four seasons. He also missed six games in 2017 due to suspension.
While playing in all 16 games last season, Elliott tallied 1,777 total yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns. He touched the ball more than 350 times for the third time in his career.
“Almost 1,800 scrimmage yards and 14 TDs with no training camp and now (I'm) not the same back,” he said.
Elliott's holdout due to a contract dispute with the Cowboys, along with a perceived loss of burst and quickness, led some to discredit his on-field ability this offseason, including an anonymous NFL offensive coach who recently voted Elliott outside of the NFL's top 10 running backs in an ESPN survey.
The anonymous coach said the Elliott that showed up late to training camp after his holdout had “very few breakout runs” last season, and “doesn't look as strong anymore . ... Feels like he's about 60 to 70 percent of what he was.”
Carolina's Christian McCaffrey and Tennessee's Derrick Henry were also ranked higher than Elliott is EA Sports' recently released Madden 21 ratings. Elliott was saddled with a 92 overall rating, tied with Cleveland's Nick Chubb.
However, it was not clear what exactly sparked Elliott's Twitter fingers Thursday.
“There are a lot of great backs in this league but I don't understand why the media has to talk down on my game just to uplift other backs. We all are talented football players and can ball,” Elliott tweeted.
“I do appreciate the standard you guys hold me to though lol. But I promise you no one holds me to a higher standard than myself.”