A dear friend texted several days ago to ask my thoughts in the wake of Ezekiel Elliott’s release.
“You bummed about Zeke? Personally.”
It’s a question that doesn’t cross my mind enough. My job is to analyze, assess and report. My goal is to explain why something happened and hopefully put it into context.
It would be disingenuous to suggest emotional attachments aren’t formed when covering a team, that a reporter doesn’t enjoy dealing with or being around some athletes, coaches and administrators more than others. But you can’t let that influence how issues are addressed.
You can’t let it dictate or distort coverage.
Still, it’s a good question and one that shouldn’t be ignored.
Bummed?
Bummed seeing how it ended for a player who meant so much to franchise and community? Bummed watching the skills of a brilliant, elite athlete who plays the game with such joy erode?
Absolutely.
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Elliott isn’t the first professional athlete to burn bright early and flame out in a way that’s unfair to his talent and approach. The NFL is a fierce opponent.
Seven years into his career, most no longer view Elliott as the third-best running back in the franchise’s rich existence. Emmitt Smith, the leading rusher in league history, and Tony Dorsett are the only backs ahead of him and both have busts in the Hall of Fame. Just 42 backs have rushed for more yards than Elliott in the league’s 103 years.
Is that what anyone talks about on his way out the door?
No.
The narrative is driven by how Tony Pollard moved past him as the Cowboys best back and how he’s not worth the contract he and his agent shrewdly negotiated when he had leverage in his prime. That will continue regardless of where he winds up.
J.D. Salinger was 21 years old when he began writing The Catcher in the Rye. Name a novel he wrote in the 70 years after that classic.
Elliott is no different. He’s no different from the accomplished and vibrant associate, friend or family member who develops a debilitating disease late in life and becomes defined by that malady. The difference:
He’s 27.
Don’t mistake this as an ode to Elliott that glosses over the aggressive and misogynistic behavior he exhibited upon entering the league, the most glaring being allegations of physical abuse against a former girlfriend that resulted in a six-game suspension. Too many were willing to look the other way on those issues because of his talent.
Jerry Jones tops the list.
That doesn’t mean he didn’t mature. That doesn’t mean he wasn’t beloved and respected by his teammates through the years for his commitment to team. How he handled Pollard’s ascension this past season only elevated his status in the locker room.
My coverage of Elliott and his off-the-field issues early in his career was perceived as critical by many fans. The social media backlash reverberates.
My response: It was fair.
It wasn’t personal.
If Elliott ever held that against me, it never showed in our interviews or personal interactions. To be honest, I’m not sure he read the criticism or even associated it with me.
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Elliott cares about his teammates. He cares about his performance and what his coaches think. The rest of us?
It’s just noise. It doesn’t impact the relationship he has with his team.
Elliott isn’t the first athlete to grapple with a premature departure from a franchise he loves. He won’t be the last.
Bummed?
How could that not be the case?
Catch David Moore periodically on The Ticket (KTCK-AM 1310 and 96.7 FM) throughout the Cowboys offseason.
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