Ezekiel Elliott has been compared by many to Emmitt Smith. Heck, Smith himself recently said Elliott is better than he was. Still, when given the opportunity to choose his number, Elliott didn’t even consider No. 22.
In the end, he chose No. 21. However, as he expressed in a media session, via Kate Hairopoulis of SportsDay, there wasn’t any significance to that number as it relates to Smith:
“Really wasn’t any meaning. I like the No. 21,” Elliott said. “If I could, I would’ve kept 15. I didn’t think about 22 — that’s just something you don’t do, that’s a guy who worked so hard and accomplished so much at this organization that would’ve been kind of disrespectful to wear his number.”
Well spoken.
And real quick, before we go any further here, how in the world is Smith’s No. 22 still even up for another player to use? Jerry Jones needs to make sure that number gets forever banned for future use, and he needs to do it quickly.
As Elliott mentioned, Smith has worked too hard and accomplished too much to let another person don that jersey.
Elliott has a chance now, provided he’s blessed with the same good luck as it relates to good health, to put together a tremendous career with the Cowboys.
He’ll likely be one of the top favorites to win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Blessed with elite athleticism, instincts and three-down-back abilities, he’s going to be hard to take off the field this year. And playing behind the NFL’s top offensive line, he could legitimately challenge for the league rushing title.