The Facts: Heading into 2018, Elliott must avoid making headlines for the wrong reasons and eliminate any possible reason for the NFL to conduct another investigation. The Cowboys are confident Elliott has learned his lesson, particularly since he faced discipline despite never being arrested or charged from the domestic violence allegations. "I know Zeke wants to be great -- I'm convinced of that, that he wants to be great," Stephen Jones said this week from Senior Bowl practices. "He's also got to understand that, to be great, you can't have these things that we call distractions and things of that nature. Things that take away, not only from him, but from our team."
Diehards Line:
Of course, the major storyline for the Cowboys throughout last season centered on Elliott and his suspension for violating the NFL’s personal-conduct policy, stemming from July 2016 domestic violence allegations. Elliott’s six-game suspension ruined a possible playoff season for the Cowboys, which makes ensuring his availability for the entirety of 2018 one of the top priorities for the organization. Owner Jerry Jones stated repeatedly throughout the investigation process that he felt the league handled it poorly and that it had wrongly convicted Elliott of a crime he didn’t commit. But, as Stephen Jones pointed out, Elliott didn’t do himself any favors. He created a perception of being a problem child throughout the 13-month investigation. Elliott visited a marijuana dispensary during a 2016 preseason game in Seattle; he exposed a woman’s breast during a St. Patrick’s Day parade in March 2017; and he happened to be at a Dallas bar when a “late-night incident” occurred in July 2017. Since that bar incident, though, Elliott has maintained a relatively low profile and hasn’t stirred much controversy off the field. The Cowboys -- and fantasy owners – have to hope that’s a positive sign.