FRISCO, Texas – Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones reiterated his support for Ezekiel Elliott on Thursday after reports surfaced earlier this week that the Pro Bowl running back recently had an altercation with a security guard at a Las Vegas concert.
"In terms of his status with us, it has not been impacted in any way," Jones said Thursday. "And frankly, I know how conscientious he's been in the offseason. And that's good enough. No, I don't see that having any consequences for us."
Earlier this week, Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones confirmed Elliott was not arrested or charged and said the team was gathering information about the incident.
The Cowboys have been pleased with Elliott's growth as a leader over the past two years. He made a generous gesture earlier this month when he paid for the funeral of Jaylon McKenzie, a standout eighth-grade football player who was fatally shot in St. Louis.
On the field, Elliott caught a career-best 77 passes last season and led the NFL in rushing for the second time in three years, earning second-team All-Pro honors.
"I think that he certainly has had a great offseason. He had a great year last year," Jerry Jones said. "And I think that'll speak for itself. I think that yes, his overall career at this point is in a really positive place."
More items from Jerry Jones' visit with reporters following Keurig Dr Pepper's groundbreaking on its new headquarters at The Star in Frisco:
- Elliott is among several top players on the roster whom the Cowboys would like to re-sign long term. Jones said the two sides have had discussions, but he didn't put a timeframe on a potential agreement.
"You don't know really where you are with any talk until you get it done," he said. "So he would fall into that group."
- Quarterback Dak Prescott is also in the middle of extension talks and told reporters Wednesday that his representatives recently made a counteroffer to a recent contract proposal by the Cowboys.
Jones was asked if he believes a deal with the Pro Bowl quarterback is simply a matter of time.
"I look at that on every player we've got. I do," Jones said. "Every one that's under contract that we have right now that we have rights to. I think that we're going to get all of the contracts done."
Again, Jones did not speculate on timing.
- In addition to Prescott and Elliott, the Cowboys have had at least preliminary contract discussions with the representatives for fellow Pro Bowlers Amari Cooper and Byron Jones.
Jerry Jones emphasized that the front office has "no pecking order" for getting these deals done.
Balancing all of them is simply part of the business – and it's a reminder that the roster is in good shape from a talent perspective.
"I'm proud that we've got these players that are noteworthy to talk about, about where their contracts are," Jones said. "But we talk contracts around here 100 percent of the time. We're talking somebody's contract all the time."
