Bills quarterback Cardale Jones played college football at Ohio State with Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott. So Jones understandably is rooting for Elliott, generally.
Jones, as it turns out, has a much more specific reason to pull for the former Buckeye.
“Hope @EzekielElliott crushes EVERY team rushing record for the @dallascowboys just because @EmmittSmith22 doubted him in the Sugar Bowl,” Jones said on Twitter earlier on Thursday.
Smith, for those of you who forget or who never knew, said before the January 2015 coming-out party for Elliott in a game against Alabama that there would be two running backs in the game, and that both played for the Crimson Tide.
Before Elliott can commence his assault on the single-game Cowboys rushing record (not held by Emmitt), the single-season Cowboys rushing record (not held by Emmitt), the longest run from scrimmage by a Cowboy (not held by Emmitt), and the all-time franchise rushing record (held by Emmitt), Elliott needs to be able to play. Before he can play, his hamstring needs to be healthy.
And before Elliott can be as effective as he needs to be, he needs to see the allegations of domestic assault against him become resolved. Elliott recently told Michael Irvin of NFL Network that the situation is “still something that’s kind of in my mind until it’s squashed and over.”
It’s “in his mind” for good reason. If a prosecutor decides to pursue criminal charges, Elliott could be facing paid leave. Even if he’s not charged, the NFL could take action against Elliott under the relative low “more likely than not” standard of evidence.
