Jerry Jones: Ezekiel Elliott Camp Holdout Doesn't Diminish Cowboys' Excitement

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones isn't sweating Ezekiel Elliott's holdout or letting Elliot's absence dampen his enthusiasm for training camp. 

"This does not in any way diminish my excitement for this team," Jones said Friday, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Although Elliott still has two more years remaining on his current deal, Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson reported the two-time Pro Bowler wants an extension that "would exceed Todd Gurley's four-year $57.5 million deal."

Elliott is one of a small handful of stars across the league staying away from training camp in the hope of getting a long-term extension.

His absence isn't surprising after he missed a flight to California the Cowboys had chartered from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

Jones told reporters Elliott is officially considered a "non-report," which opens him up to a fine for every day of training camp he misses. Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones added the team has discussed a new contract with his representatives.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the two sides are "not close."

Elliott's desire for improved contract terms is understandable. He has run for 4,048 yards and 28 touchdowns through his first three years and has firmly established himself as one of the NFL's best running backs.

But he's only set to earn a little more than $3.8 million in 2019 and $9 million in 2020 before he's eligible for free agency, per Spotrac.

As ridiculous as it might sound, Elliott's earning power may never be higher than it is now. 

He has already logged 868 carries. Add another two years of wear and tear, and teams may not be willing to break the bank when he hits the open market. Le'Veon Bell ultimately faced a pretty lukewarm bidding war for his services earlier this offseason.

That, in turn, casts a level of doubt on how high the Cowboys are willing to go to meet Elliott's demands.

It's doesn't appear Elliott's holdout is causing too much drama at Dallas' training camp. The longer it goes, though, the more strained his relationship with the team could become.