I stumbled across this article on the Dallas Morning News
Website. To summarize, former Cowboys
running back DeMaro Murray sent a 3 word text to rookie running back Ezekiel
Elliot as advice: Watch No. 82.
Are you ‘That Person?’ Are you someone that others can look to as a model for how to approach work, school, athletics, life, etc? If not, what can you change RIGHT NOW to become so? As my favorite quotes states:
'The time is always right to do what’s right.'
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The full article is below.
I have highlighted some of the key points that I took. You can find the original article here.
ORLANDO, Fla. -- This week's Pro Bowl practices and skills competition have been much like the entire Cowboys season. All eyes are on Ezekiel Elliott.
ORLANDO, Fla. -- This week's Pro Bowl practices and skills competition have been much like the entire Cowboys season. All eyes are on Ezekiel Elliott.
Dancing,
joking, photo-bombing, shaking pompoms and celebrating a dodgeball victory by
taking his shirt off are all part of a normal day for Elliott.
But watching the constant entertainment raises an
interesting question: Who does the center of attention watch?
During the
2016 season, it was Jason Witten.
DeMarco Murray began training
camp his rookie year by standing on the sidelines. Dealing with a hamstring
injury, the Cowboys running back decided it was best to study the veteran
players.
Witten's daily habits
immediately caught his attention.
Five years later, Murray, now
with Tennessee, sent Elliott a text message after Dallas drafted him fourth
overall in April. His advice: Watch No. 82.
What exactly should he have
been looking for?
"Every and anything,"
Murray said Thursday morning after the AFC's Pro Bowl practice at the ESPN Wide
World of Sports Complex. "Anything he's doing, working-wise, working
out-wise, film-wise, using the bathroom, whatever it takes, watch 82.
"He'll lead the way and
show you how to do things the right way."
Elliott
says he followed those directions. Well, maybe not the bathroom part.
"Witten was my guy,"
Elliott said Thursday after the NFC's practice. "I stayed in Wit's hip
pocket and did everything I could to learn from him, learn how to be a
pro."
Murray also advised him to
"take care of your guys." Elliott did just that last month when he
gave each of the team's offensive linemen John Deere utility vehicles.
The gift
was Elliott's way of showing appreciation for their contribution to a rookie
year that included a rushing title, a Pro Bowl invite, first-team All-Pro
recognition and likely Rookie of the Year honors.
Murray set
the tone for Cowboys locker room gifts in 2014. En route to recording a franchise
single-season rushing record of 1,845 yards, Murray gifted each of the starting
offensive linemen iMac desktop computers.
After
seeing what Elliott was able to accomplish on the field in his first season,
Murray figures that what he did in his fourth season won't stand as the
franchise record for much longer.
"He'll
get it someday," Murray said.
Elliott
didn't play much during the second half of a Week 16 blowout victory over
Detroit. He didn't play at all in Week 17. The Cowboys had already locked up
the top seed in the NFC playoffs.
And still,
Elliott led the league with 1,631 yards and 15 touchdowns on 322 carries.
He
averaged 21.4 rushing attempts per game. In 2014, Murray averaged 24.5. Elliott
is likely to see a larger workload and more production in his second season.
"I'm a
perfectionist," Elliott said, "so I'm definitely not satisfied."
How much better can he get?
"The sky is the
limit," he responded.
Murray
kept up with Elliott's first NFL season. He expected to see a good runner. It
was the blocking and pass catching that impressed him most.
"That
caught my eye," Murray said. "He's a tough guy. I have a lot of
respect for a guy that will run the ball and do those other two things."
Elliott
became annoyed at times during the season when he was often asked about
breaking Eric Dickerson's NFL rookie rushing record of 1,808 yards. He won't
get those questions anymore.
They will
be replaced by questions about Murray's 1,845 yards.
Elliott
flashed a big smile Thursday when told that Murray said he'll eventually break
his record.
Elliott
then said: "That's the plan."
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