The Dallas Cowboys, under new head coach/play-caller Brian Schottenheimer, have made it clear that the offense wants to get back to running the football effectively.

Schottenheimer has stated it, so too Stephen Jones at the Senior Bowl, and then we add in Klayton Adams, who helped develop the Arizona Cardinals’ potent top-10 run game last season, as the new offensive coordinator, and everything is pointing in the direction of Dallas wanting to run the ball as its first port of call.

Due to that, many have linked the Cowboys’ desire to run the football down people’s throats to their taking Boise State star Ashton Jeanty with the 12th overall pick.

That seems logical, but as a rookie, can he take all of that brutal punishment alone?

Likely not, he’ll need a partner, and that brings us to Rico Dowdle. Rico’s future in Dallas is murky at best as a free agent, but after rushing for 1,079 yards as part of a running back by committee for the first half of the season, he will have admirers for his services.

But has Rico earned the right to at least return to Dallas and be a cog in Schottenheimer’s offense? We get the debate. But …

We say yes. Even if it is likely to be a sidekick for another back, say Jeanty. Dowdle, per Spotrac.com, is likely to command around $6 million APY on the open market, and that seems easily doable for the Cowboys.

However, we point out the reluctance to do business with running backs last season who only wanted $4 million APY.

However, Stephen Jones did hint at the Cowboys possibly changing their ways regarding free agency, so who knows how the next few months will play out.

But one thing is for certain, Dowdle, in his first full season with no injuries and being the starter for half of it, showed he can offer the offense something.

Dallas looked for continuity in its coaching hire, so why not bring back Dowdle on a relatively cheap deal to help push what many think will be an offense that leans heavily on the run?

Rico has at least earned that right.