Ezekiel Elliott says Dez Bryant’s release was ‘tough’

Ezekiel Elliott knows that losing Dez Bryant was not easy.

The Dallas Cowboys running back spoke about the team’s decision to release Bryant, who had been with the franchise for eight years.

Ezekiel Elliott to @JJT_Journalist on Dez Bryant being released: “That was tough. Dez is someone that we are all very close with. He was a leader on our team. He was one of our better players. It’s just the nature of the game. It’s a business, and it just shows you that.”

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) April 23, 2018

“That was tough. Dez is someone that we are all very close with. He was a leader on our team. He was one of our better players. It’s just the nature of the game. It’s a business, and it just shows you that,” Elliott told Jean-Jacques Taylor, according to Jon Machota.

Bryant’s release was somewhat anticipated given some of Stephen Jones’ comments about the wide receiver. It’s also clear that Dallas preferred to just move on from Dez because they didn’t even offer him the chance to take a pay cut.

Finding a receiver to replace Bryant won’t be easy, but signing Allen Hurns and adding someone via the draft could help.