FRISCO, Texas _ It was a kinder, friendlier Ezekiel Elliott in the Dallas Cowboys locker room Wednesday.
The season opener against the Carolina Panthers is just days away. The star running back is excited to get on the field for the first time since the end a tumultuous and disjointed 2017 season when he fought an NFL suspension in federal court for the first eight weeks before missing six games.
Elliott didn't play at all in the preseason.
So his first game action of any kind in eight months will come Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.
And while he is smiling because of how good he feels and how great of shape he is after an enjoying a stress-free and focused offseason unlike a year ago, don't let the cheery disposition fool you.
There is a fire burning inside to make amends to himself and his teammates for last season's distractions _ the Cowboys went 3-3 during his suspension, which is primarily to blame for the 9-7 finish _ and to regain his status as the best back in the NFL.
"I think it's just my focus. I'm definitely going into this year with a chip on my shoulder and I think I have a lot to prove," Elliott said. "I was more focused and ready to go out there and prove what I can do on the field."
Elliott still doesn't elaborate about the court case of a year ago and the suspension. He says "it's in the past" when asked if thought about what was going through at this time last year. He didn't find out he was cleared to play in the season opener until the Tuesday during an injunction hearing in federal district court. It was one of four court appearances in Sherman, New Orleans and two in New York.
But therein lies the chip.
"Chip on my shoulder is not having a full year last year just not performing the way I believe I could have," Elliott said.
After leading the league with 1,631 yards and 15 touchdowns as a rookie in 2016, he rushed for 983 and seven touchdowns in 10 games last year. His 98.3 yards per game was a league high.
But performances weren't the same, nor were the results which can be traced to a stressful offseason and training camp while bracing for the results of 13-month NFL investigation.
He worked hard when he came to the Cowboys facility but he was also dealing with a lot off the field that had him overweight and not in as good a shape as he would have liked.
"I would never say last year I wasn't engaged with the game," Elliott said. "I did a great job of checking my (expletive) at the door. It is a lot more stress-free though, I would say that."
Absent those issues, a stress-free Elliott came into the training camp and the season in the best shape of his career, setting the stage for him to not only surpass his rookie totals but possibly challenge Eric Dickerson's NFL single rushing record of 2,106.
Elliott told owner Jerry Jones upon his return from the suspension that he was ready to be the back the Cowboys need him to be. Jones has headed those words and watched Elliott work in the offseason and training camp, prompting him to predict a possible record-setting year for the third-year back.
He will certainly get that opportunity as the focal point of an offense that is heading into 2016 without any proven receiver options. It means Elliott will get the ball as much as possible as a runner and a receiver.
So being more being focused, being in better shape and being stress-free should pay dividends.
"I thought he handled the distractions really well last year," coach Jason Garrett said. "There was a lot of stuff going around in his life that he had to deal with. For the most part when he was here he was pretty locked in and did what he needed to do. Now that it's behind him you just see him that much more focused that much more ready to go."
Guard Zack Martin agreed. He has noticed a different Elliott from the start of the offseason program all the way through training camp and can't wait to see what he is going unleash upon the league in 2018, starting Sunday.
"I think he always been a hard worker but just something different. Him coming each day and running hard although he hasn't played in preseason. Just how hard he was running (in training camp), how far he was running every play, the amount of reps he was taking. I mean just everything was kicked up a notch. I think he's gotten himself in very good shape and is ready to take a lot of the load there. I don't think there any question he ready for this week."
Likewise, Elliott was ready for all questions from a throng of cameras and tape records on Wednesday. After talking to the media just twice during training camp and the preseason, he held court for almost 10 minutes, although he said it felt like 15.
And when he was done, he said, "thank you."
So polite, yet so focused.
Stress-free, yet carrying a chip on his shoulder to make amends for last season.
Are you ready?
Elliott is.
