Ezekiel Elliott wasn't going to end his holdout until he was satisfied with the Cowboys' offer.
The star running back signed a six-year, $90 million extension with a running back record $50 million in guarantees after it was all said and done.
"I believe I’m the best," Elliott said when asked why it was important for him to be the highest-paid player at his position.
He’s back!
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) September 4, 2019
Exclusive look at @EzekielElliott's signing and his reaction to his extension after becoming a Cowboy for life. pic.twitter.com/qpAvDjuWDu
Elliott said he's happy to be back with the team after holding out for 40 days and training in Cabo with Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk. He expressed gratitude for the amount of support he received from his teammates.
"Calls, text ... I mean, one of my teammates told me don't come back without a deal," Elliott said (via the team's website). "I mean, just support like that from this group of guys meant everything. It definitely would have been harder if things were the opposite."
As for the running back's fitness after training on his own during the entire preseason? Elliott said he feels good.
"He's in very good shape. He looks good, but he hasn't practiced with pro football players, so we'll just see how he fits back in," coach Jason Garrett said. "But he's a quick study. He's a smart guy, got excellent football IQ. So we'll just see where he is and adjust accordingly as we go."
The Cowboys still need to make a move on the 53-man roster for him to play, but Elliott said he feels he could still handle a full workload Sunday if Dallas gave it to him.
"I think I'm just going to approach it as a normal week. You still have to be fresh by Sunday," Elliott said. "It is a long season. So don't want to try to overdo it and risk injury."
Elliott, the fourth overall pick in the 2016 draft, said he's just focused on getting better for the Cowboys.
"I've just got to take it to the next level now," Elliott said.