Emmitt Smith, #22 of the Dallas Cowboys, carries the ball against the Buffalo Bills during Super Bowl XXVIII on Jan. 30, 1994 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. (Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
"Wow, this is amazing to me—no disrespect to Malik Davis. Our starting running back is gone, and his backup has a broken leg? the NFL stands for not for long," Smith wrote. "Everyone else, go get your money because they have no love for you. It don’t make sense and this is one of those things that make you (shake) your head. Thank you Z for giving everything you have including (playing) injured all of last year. This is why, the NFL stands for (not for long). Everybody else go get your money because they have no love for you."
Smith knows the business of football better as much as anyone. He was released by the Cowboys before the 2003 season as new head coach Bill Parcells wanted to go with a younger running back corps.
Ezekiel Elliott, #21 of the Dallas Cowboys, warms up prior to a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium on Dec. 24, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
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Smith signed with the Arizona Cardinals and rushed for more than 1,100 yards in two seasons. He retired as the NFL’s leader in rushing yards.
Elliott was the No. 4 pick of the 2016 draft after starring at Ohio State. He finished second in the Offensive Rookie of the Year voting and third in NFL MVP voting in his first season. He topped 1,000 yards rushing four times in his career with Dallas.
Emmitt Smith, former Dallas Cowboys running back, left shakes hands with Ezekiel Elliott, #21 of the Dallas Cowboys, before a game against the Chicago Bears at AT&T Stadium on Oct. 30, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
In 2022, Elliott rushed for 876 yards and 12 touchdowns in 15 games for Dallas.