Cowboys arrive for training camp without a big star, but his teammates are not worried
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was not on the team plane Thursday when it departed Dallas for training camp in Oxnard, Calif., increasing the drama surrounding a possible holdout.
Elliott has contemplated not reporting to camp in hopes of forcing the Cowboys to address his wish for a contract extension.
Elliott does not have to officially show up until Friday when coach Jason Garrett holds the first team meeting before the first practice on Saturday.
Per a source, the Cowboys won’t have a problem if Elliott shows up by the end of physicals and the conditioning run on Friday, which is around 10:30 a.m.
He can be fined $40,000 for each day of training camp that he misses, under Article 42 and Section 1 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. And he would lose the opportunity to earn an accrued season if he doesn’t report by Aug. 6.
Garrett said on Wednesday that he expected Elliott on the charter for camp, as he hadn’t been told otherwise.
But his empty seat on the team plane was telling.
There are players who meet the team in California for camp, though most traditionally take the charter from Dallas.
Teammates not concerned by Elliott’s absence
Linebacker Jaylon Smith, in an attempt to downplay Elliott’s absence after arriving at camp in Oxnard, said the two-time rushing champion wasn’t the only player who didn’t take the team plane to camp.
“A lot of guys that you know ... didn’t get a chance to make the flight. The official report day is tomorrow,” Smith said. “ A few guys.”
Smith said he lives around the corner from Elliott in Frisco called him a guy he loves and trusts. But he wouldn’t speculate on whether his neighbor back home was going to show up for camp.
“It’s going to be a beautiful day. I mean, he’s a guy that I love and trust,” Smith said. “I mean like I said, official camp day is tomorrow so tomorrow is when we’ll see who’s here and who’s ready to go. I mean I’m not Ezekiel Elliott but I’m here.”
“We’re a team, we’re going to be together and I love the hell out of Zeke.”
Center Travis Frederick had a similar mindset when asked about Elliott’s absence after getting off the bus at the team hotel in Oxnard.
“We don’t have to be out here until tomorrow,” Frederick said. “There are guys who live out here or spend time out here, it’s easier for them to make the trip up and do that. To me, it doesn’t make a difference.”
Frederick said he is not concerned about Elliott’s situation being a distraction for the team heading into training camp. He said most of the guys are excited about playing football again and building off what they started in organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamp.
He said there is a buzz about the team while calling Elliott’s possible holdout part of the business of the game.
“I don’t think anybody is concerned about it,” Frederick said. “To me, this game is a business. Everybody has to treat it as such. I hold no hard feelings to anybody that is trying to do that and get the business done and protect their family.
“So for me, we are out here to work. We are going to work with the guys that we have. That is not a dig at anybody. That is how it works. You just deal with what you have.”
This story was originally published July 25, 2019 at 1:32 PM.
