![Ezekiel Elliott](https://larrybrownsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/ezekiel-elliott.jpg)
Ezekiel Elliott has been heavily criticized this week for the lack of effort he showed late in the Dallas Cowboys’ loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday, and the running back is not denying that he could have tried harder.
Speaking with reporters after practice on Thursday, Elliott said he had “no excuse” for dogging it and that he has to handle that type of situation much better going forward.
“I guess you could say it looked like that,” Elliott said, via Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. “I would say I was just very frustrated, but that’s no excuse for the lack of effort I showed on tape. I just can’t do that. Being one of the leaders on the team and being a guy that people count on, I can’t put that type of stuff on film.”
![Ezekiel Elliott](https://larrybrownsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/ezekiel-elliott.jpg)
Elliott said the issue has been addressed with the team and will be kept “in-house.”
“Just bad effort. It’s definitely not me,” he added. “It’s definitely not the type of player I am. It’s definitely not who I am for this team. I just can’t do that. I was frustrated, and I wasn’t myself.”
Elliott had by far the worst game of his career against Denver, rushing for just eight yards on nine carries. For a player who essentially did nothing but win throughout his career at Ohio State and last year with the Cowboys, that was unfamiliar territory.
Both Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and head coach Jason Garrett admitted Elliott could have put forth a better effort, though neither was quite as animated as Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who accused Elliott of quitting on his teammates. Michael Irvin has already said he plans to confront Tomlinson over his comments during the Thursday Night Football broadcast, but Elliott’s own admission of his poor attitude will make him a lot tougher to defend.