In his first season back with the Cowboys after a one-year stint with the New England Patriots, Elliott has been "distracted," NFL Network's Jane Slater reported Sunday. He's often tardy to practices and meetings, and he's missed three team meetings. His absence at Friday's meeting was apparently the "final straw."

One of the biggest stories going into the Cowboys’ Week 9 game was the benching of running back Ezekiel Elliott. The veteran player didn’t make the trip to Atlanta and was listed as inactive for the matchup. So, what led to Elliott’s benching? According to reports from Fox Sports and NFL Network, tardiness had a role in Dallas’ decision.