The Dallas Cowboys say that the incident involving Ezekiel Elliott over the weekend in Las Vegas will not impact their long-term contract talks with him.
Elliott was handcuffed and detained briefly during an incident at the Electric Daisy Carnival music festival early Sunday morning in Las Vegas. TMZ Sports reports and shared video that showed the Cowboys running back shoving an event staff member to the ground. Las Vegas police handcuffed Elliott after the shove and detained him, though he was eventually let go.
Police say the staffer who was shoved to the ground declined to press charges for misdemeanor battery.
“Two officers approached and placed Elliott into handcuffs while they investigated,” Las Vegas police said in a statement. “The security guard who was the victim of the misdemeanor battery refused to press charges and officers escorted Elliott a short distance away and he was released.”
Elliott later appeared at his youth football camp in Frisco, Texas that day.
Speaking with reporters on Monday, Cowboys executive Stephen Jones said the incident would not impact their contract negotiations with the running back.
Stephen Jones said club continues to gather information on Ezekiel Elliott episode in Las Vegas. Didn’t want to discuss specifics, but did reiterate he’s impressed w/ how Elliott has conducted himself overall & said what took place over weekend would not impact negotiations.
— David Moore (@DavidMooreDMN) May 20, 2019
Stephen Jones, who has pointed out a more professional approach by Ezekiel Elliott, doesn’t want latest episode to obscure his progress: “Zeke has got a big heart. These are all bumps. People have challenges.”
— David Moore (@DavidMooreDMN) May 20, 2019
Elliott, 23, is still on his rookie contract and the Cowboys plan to pick up his fifth-year option for 2020, which would pay him just over $9 million.
The two-time NFL rushing leader has been the subject of multiple off-field incidents, going back to his time in college when he was cited for driving on a suspended license. He was accused of domestic assault shortly after being drafted by the Cowboys and was later suspended six games by the NFL. He was accused in 2017 of breaking a man’s nose during an altercation.
The Cowboys believe the young back is still maturing and has shown signs of progressing off the field, such as the generous gesture he recently made to a grieving family.
