The hope in Dallas is that first round draft pick Ezekiel Elliott will be the next Emmitt Smith. According to the first Emmitt Smith, Elliott might be better.
That’s what the NFL’s all-time leading rusher said on twitter recently when discussing the Cowboys’ pick with a fan, and he expanded on that idea in a recent appearance on 105.3-FM’s “G-Bag Nation” show in Dallas.
“Well, he is better in the context of his speed, he's faster," Smith said, per the Dallas Morning News. "In the context of his ability to block, he can block. I just think that he's a smart football player. At the end of the day, I'd like to think that he is better than me because obviously some of those things that we just talked about actually give him the ability to make a house call when he needs to.
“I’m always going to believe that someone else is better than me, so I can always remain hungry even though I'm not competing any more. I just think that Zeke has a very unique skill set. And it's not up to me to compare myself to him or anyone else to compare him to me. Bottom line is, I'm going to sit back and enjoy this talent that's coming to the Dallas Cowboys and cheer it on and support it in any way I can.”
If it sounds like Smith was happy with the Elliott pick, that’s because he was.
"I think they got a very, very good football player," Smith said. "I really do. I like Zeke. I've always liked Zeke. I met him through Urban Meyer obviously when Ohio State was here playing in the national championship game. I'm looking forward to what he brings to the table. ... I think the Cowboys did a very good job.”
