DALLAS — Ezekiel Elliott was swarmed the moment he walked into the room.
Pediatric cancer patients ran up to the former Cowboys running back to ask for autographs and selfies. He was at the “Light It Up’' gala at the Hilton Anatole to help raise money for the Children’s Cancer Fund.
Elliott spent time with every child who came up to him upon his arrival Friday evening. When approached by reporters to talk about his release from the Cowboys and his future, he politely declined.
“I’m doing great,’’ he said before turning back to his young fans. “Doing great.’’
The club cut Elliott in March on the first day of the NFL’s new fiscal year. The parting was described as mutual by owner Jerry Jones in a release issued by the club and came as no surprise.
Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett are the only backs who have rushed for more yards in the franchise’s rich history. But Elliott’s skills eroded over the past two seasons to the point where Tony Pollard had moved past him as the team’s most effective back.
Elliott’s side had indicated the former first-round pick would be willing to take a pay cut to remain in Dallas, but determining a number that would accurately reflect his projected role in 2023 was too difficult for both sides to navigate. The Cowboys chose not to make an offer rather than present one he found insulting.
He was designated as a post-June 1 cut, meaning the club carves out an additional $10.9 million on the upcoming payroll.
Elliott remains unsigned and has been working out with Dak Prescott at a field his good friend has at his home. The Cowboys quarterback, along with Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman, is a co-chair of the “Light It Up’' event that was expected to raise more than $1 million.
“He’s my best friend,’’ Prescott said when asked if he and Elliott were workout partners. “Hell yeah I’m throwing with him.’’
Would Prescott like to see the Cowboys find a way to bring Elliott back?
“Hell yeah,’’ he said.
That’s highly unlikely. If the Cowboys select a running back in next week’s draft, especially in the first four rounds, that would appear to shut the door completely.
“His mindset is just getting better, period,’’ Prescott said of Elliott. “However he can. He’s working his ass off.’’
Is a back who won two rushing titles and rushed for 8,262 yards in his first seven years in the NFL frustrated that he remains unsigned?
“I can’t tell you that,’’ Prescott said. “Honestly, I’m not going to pick on that. When I see him, I don’t talk about that.
“But hell, I would be.’’
