Cowboys running backs coach Gary Brown has an embarrassment of riches on his depth chart. First round pick Ezekiel Elliott is added to a running back corps which already boasts Darren McFadden and newly signed Alfred Morris. Another veteran, Lance Dunbar, is working his way back from a season-ending knee injury.

Where does Elliott fit among the veteran-laden position group? And how did McFadden and Morris react to the Cowboys decision to use the fourth overall pick of the draft on a rookie running back?

"Darren and Alfred and I all had a conversation (Friday)," says Brown. "And those guys are so mature, so professional, that they understand that it's a business. They understand that guy is going to come help us win. And at the end of the day, those two guys want to go to the Super Bowl just like everybody else, and they know this kid can help us.

As a former NFL running back that played eight years in the league, Brown understands how important camaraderie is among a position group.

"Absolutely," says Brown. "I've been in the position where I got drafted and was the new guy coming in. I was in the position at the end of my career when a guy got drafted to come in. So I can relate to both sides. And I think that will help us avoid the pitfalls that I've dealt with in my career.

The scouting report on Elliott is that he's a "complete back". For most fans, that means that he can catch the ball as well as run. But for Brown, there's a lot more to being "a complete back" than running and catching.

"One of things we talk about in our running backs room is, 'who are you without the ball?' And he's one of the best I've ever seen without the ball. His pass protection is very, very good. He's where he is supposed to be on pass routes, where he can open up someone behind him. So he understands the passing game. Obviously he's going to block for other guys in the run game. He's going to do everything necessary for him to be a complete football player, and that's what separated him from everybody else."

Brown is also impressed by the way Elliott carries himself off-the-field.

"He's a humble kid," notes Brown. "He's a very intelligent kid. He talks about a lot of things other than football. He's interested in a lot of things other than football. But he wants to be the greatest to put on pads, so I'm going to help him get there."