Prescott lauds 'leader' Elliott after battling through turbulent 2017
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is looking to re-establish himself as one of the NFL's premier backs and his quarterback Dak Prescott couldn't be more proud of his attitude.
Elliott won the rushing title during his rookie season but served a six-game suspension during the 2017 campaign, ultimately derailing his goal of repeating the feat.
The Cowboys superstar is looking to exact some vengeance this season and Prescott spoke candidly about his friend's approach to the summer Wednesday.
"The emotional roller-coaster he was going through last year - 'Was he playing?' 'Was he not playing?' - and then to have the game taken away from him for the time he did, it takes a toll," Prescott said, per ESPN's Todd Archer.
"It takes a toll on anybody that cares and loves what they do. And not only that, loves their teammates and the organization they play for. So just having that freedom, coming in this year, being able to work and knowing he's going to have every game ahead of him is going to do wonders for him. He's been great out here at OTAs, being a great leader, showing guys the way to practice and the way to run."
At 22, it may be bizarre to consider Elliott a veteran leader but that's exactly what he's revealing himself to be as the Cowboys look to get back to the playoffs following last year's hiatus.
"He's just showing those young guys the way to practice, with the ball, how to be great with the ball in your hands and how to be great without the ball in your hands," Prescott said.
"He's one of those guys that doesn't have to say too much on the field, just the way he carries his business, the way he goes about it and the way he practices. It speaks for itself, and the young guys look up to it. I look up to it. The older guys look up to it. That's the way to practice and the way to be a pro in this league."
Elliott and Prescott formed one of the league's dynamic duos in 2016, and the former's suspension seemed to briefly hinder the latter in 2017. If Elliott and Prescott are firing on all cylinders, the Cowboys' offense could take the league by storm once again.