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FRISCO, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys’ offseason program ended with the final day of mandatory minicamp, but for Ezekiel Elliott it’s not exactly time to fully get away from football.  “It’s definitely a time to step back and relax and take a break, but not really a break,” Elliott said. “You still got to work out, but I think it’s important to get some time to yourself.” When the Cowboys get back to work at training camp in Oxnard, California, in late July, Elliott knows a lot will be expected of him as he enters his third season. As a rookie, Elliott led the NFL with 1,631 yards on 322 carries. Limited to 10 games last season because of a suspension, Elliott carried 242 times for 983 yards. With the Cowboys losing wide receiver Dez Bryant and tight end Jason Witten this offseason, Elliott’s workload in 2018 should increase. “I’m all for it,” Elliott said. “A lot is asked from the running back for the Dallas Cowboys. A lot has been asked from me the past two seasons, and I think I’ve had some great strides this offseason, getting ready to carry that workload.” A year ago at this time, Elliott was awaiting discipline from the NFL for an alleged incident in July 2016 in Columbus, Ohio, involving a former girlfriend. The league announced the suspension in training camp but Elliott’s legal fight kept him eligible for the first half of the season. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he thinks Elliott will have a better season in 2018 because he is free from distractions. Coach Jason Garrett and running backs coach Gary Brown praised Elliott’s work in the offseason program with his conditioning and becoming more of a leader among the running backs. “I think he’s someone who’s obviously been a very good player for us right from the get-go, and I think like with all players as they come into the league, I think the more they go, the more they understand what’s required of them as players, and as people,” Garrett said. “I think they grow. Hopefully, we’ve put a good structure around him that can help him continue to grow as both a football player and as a person off the field. And really we try to do that with all of our players. That’s part of our job as coaches.”
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