The man who can stop the Dallas Cowboys: Ezekiel Elliott

Although the Dallas Cowboys won’t see Ezekiel Elliott suspended, the star running back is considering a training camp hold out, which kicks off Saturday.

Surprise, surprise. Ezekiel Elliott, a pivotal piece in the Dallas Cowboys engine, may not attend the start of training camp, potentially extending his absence to preseason games. The superstar running back, like his quarterback friend, Dak Prescott, wants Dallas to put a new commitment on the table in the form of a new contract extension.

For the Cowboys, a team potentially in Super Bowl contention, the timing couldn’t be worse. First, the organization is already juggling contract options for Prescott, wide receiver Amari Cooper and cornerback ace, Byron Jones.

Oh, and on top of that, the Cowboys are kicking off training camp soon. Keep in mind, due to recent surgeries for defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and Byron Jones, Dallas is hoping the two stars return to full health by the time the season opens.

Nothing is guaranteed in the health department, which is why it’s vital to have all the stars ready for Week One. Elliott isn’t just one of these superstars, he is perhaps, the star of all the stars. The newest Madden video game didn’t spot him with a 94 rating for the heck of it.

Elliott is a powerhouse for the Cowboys and a juggernaut for NFL sales. And Zeke knows this, which gives him tons of ammunition should he decide to play the holdout stakes game with America’s Team.

The truth is the Cowboys need him badly. Regardless of how you feel about Zeke’s timing with his potential holdout, Dallas’ biggest foe has now become No. 21. Elliott is the best weapon for the Cowboys in 2019, which also makes him the most dangerous enemy to derail the team’s potential for success.

Elliott isn’t just good. His talents are supreme during an era where the running back system has become a lost art. Critics will point out that NFL teams don’t need to spend crucial resources on tailbacks in the form of draft picks or dollars.

I couldn’t disagree more. The Dallas Cowboys are successful because of their running attack, a foundation cloned from the 1990s era that took the Cowboys to three titles. The Cowboys proved to the NFL that not only do running backs matter in this era, but the position can serve the passing game and defensive schemes when you hold on to the ball.

The world laughed at the Cowboys for spending a fourth overall selection in the 2016 NFL Draft on a running back. Elliott proved Dallas right with elite play. With a stellar offensive line, the Cowboys proved that their blueprint was true.

Now, Elliott might miss some time from the team. It won’t be because of a suspension statement from the NFL. No, this is coming from Zeke himself, who is volunteering time away this time around. Let me tell you, Roger Goodell must be laughing to himself right now.

We all saw what the Dallas Cowboys are without the 23-year-old when he was suspended for six games during the course of the 2017 season. Ezekiel Elliott has proved to be the one true firepower. Take him away, and the Cowboys are back to mediocrity.