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The current contract holdout of Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott called for some depth at the running back position. In turn, they opted to turn to a familiar face, as the team has reportedly re-signed running back Alfred Morris.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the news Monday evening.
Alfred Morris Reuniting With Cowboys
The 30-year-old running back will return to the team after spending the 2016 and 2017 seasons in Dallas. Over that stretch, Morris averaged just under five yards per carry, as Rapoport mentioned.
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This could be a sign that owner Jerry Jones’ comments Monday afternoon about Elliott were not smoke and mirrors. The team is making moves to show they are willing to prepare for the 2019 season with or without their star running back.
During an interview with CBS 11 in Dallas on Monday, Jones stated that you “don’t have to have a rushing champion to win a Super Bowl.”
By signing Morris, they will have veteran leadership for either the stable of rookie running backs behind Elliott or Zeke himself. Nonetheless, Morris will likely get his fair share of opportunities in training camp, preseason, and possibly during the regular season.
Morris was a 6th round pick by the Washington Redskins in 2012, where he played four seasons. The Florida Atlantic product produced 1,000-plus yard seasons in each of his first three years. He was dominant for the Redskins and showed impressive upside during his time there. The team ended up parting ways with him after a 2015 season in which he had just one touchdown the entire season.
Morris would join the Cowboys for two seasons and played sparingly. He spent one year with the San Francisco 49ers before becoming a free agent.
It seems he will fill in for depth at running back during turbulent times. His veteran leadership will be a great presence for the entire team.
Ezekiel Elliott Reportedly Heads to Cabo
It was reported earlier in the day Monday that Elliott has left the country amid his contract holdout. He will visit Cabo San Lucas, Mexico while the Cowboys ramp up training camp in Oxnard, CA.
This was first reported by Kevin Turner of 105.3 The Fan in Dallas.
Elliott will reportedly head to his agent’s house in Cabo, where he spent his suspension during the 2017 season. It is likely Elliott will spend most of this time training and getting his body ready for action when his contract dispute is resolved. It would make sense if that were the case, given the notoriety of Elliott’s deal and the amount of press this story has received.
The team has been rolling with rookie running backs Tony Pollard and Mike Weber early in camp. Darius Jackson has also been in the mix during the first few days of practice. So Morris will be a welcomed addition to the backfield.
Given Jones’ comments, it seems that the team is not afraid to put their foot down in contract talks. It remains to be seen how this impacts negotiations but could create some urgency in Elliott’s camp potentially.
READ NEXT: Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott Leaves Country Amid Contract Holdout [Report]
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