ARLINGTON, Texas -- Alfred Morris might be a new Cowboy, but this isn't his first rodeo.
Morris was the Cowboys' newest running back -- up until last Thursday, when the organization spent its No. 4 overall draft pick on Ezekiel Elliott. But if anyone thought Morris was bothered by the highly-touted rookie joining the roster, that sounds far from the case.
"I get used to that, man," Morris said. "When I was at the Redskins, every year they drafted another running back."
It's true. Even after Morris ran for 1,613 yards as a rookie in 2012, Washington drafted ball carriers in every subsequent year of his career. In 2013 the Redskins spent a fifth-round pick on Chris Thompson and a seventh-round pick on Jawan Jamison. A year later, they took Baylor's Lache Seastrunk in the sixth round.
Finally, last spring, Washington spent the 95th overall pick on Matt Jones -- who looks poised to look over the Redskins' starting role after Morris' departure.
"I'm used to it -- it's a business at the end of the day," Morris said. "Competition only makes us better, so I get excited about it. It's definitely going to be a big challenge, but I'm excited and looking forward to it."
Elliott just might represent the stiffest competition Morris has faced during his time in the NFL. It's fascinating that Morris, who took the league by storm to make two Pro Bowls as the draft's No. 173 overall pick, will be going up against one the most highly-touted rookie running backs in recent memory.
Despite that fact, Morris said he was excited to see Elliott selected so highly -- especially given the recent trend of NFL clubs opting to choose running backs later on in the draft order.
"I'm excited, because I'm very biased toward running backs. They try to devalue us," he said. "So it was a dry spell until last year that running backs weren't even going in the first round. So a running back going in the first round now, I'm excited -- two years in a row now."
With the draft now concluded, Morris and Elliott will soon be acclimating as teammates -- not to mention competitors. The veteran made the astute observation that despite his experience, he won't be able to teach the rookie much about an offense that he himself is still learning.
"Certain things with him, I won't be able to do that -- because I myself am learning a whole new playbook. So that'll be different," he said. "But if he wants some wisdom or just to learn -- this is my fifth year and I've learned a few things. If he wants to pick my brain about things, I'm an open book."
Those don't sound like the words of a man who feels threatened. So even if the Cowboys' running back room suddenly looks crowded, Morris said he's got no regrets about his decision to sign in Dallas.
"None at all," he said. "This is where I'm supposed to be, and I'm excited about the opportunity and looking forward to it."
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