Cowboys RB vs. NFL

Twenty-two year-old Ezekiel Elliott, former Ohio State Buckeye and current Dallas Cowboys running back, tore up the field in 2016 as part of the famous “214” duo with Dak Prescott. He finished the season with 1,631 rushing yards, more than any other player in the league according to the NFL. Elliott was also a contender for the NFL Rookie of the Year Award, but the award went to Prescott. His overall successful 2016 season had Cowboys fans hopeful for an even better 2017 season, but recent allegations of domestic violence against Elliott have presented setbacks for the running back.

According to the NFL, Elliott’s ex-girlfriend Tiffany Thompson accused him of abusing her physically in July 2016. The NFL then conducted an investigation over the course of late 2017 and early 2017, and they determined that he disobeyed the NFL’s policy for domestic violence and suspended Elliott for six games on August 11.

“Todd Jones, the NFL’s Special Counsel for Conduct, said independent advisers who reviewed the evidence gathered by the league ‘were of the view that there is substantial and persuasive evidence supporting a finding that [Elliott] engaged in physical violence against Ms. Thompson on multiple occasions during the week of July 16, 2016,’”  the NFL website reported.

Elliott appealed the six game suspension in early August and has since then filed a lawsuit against the NFL. However, the league overturned his appeal and upheld the suspension. After the appeal was overturned, Elliott was intended to play in the week one game versus the Giants since the decision came later than expected, and then he would serve his six-game suspension. Elliott managed to find a loophole to play as much as possible by filing for a preliminary injunction, which basically means that Elliott can play while the judicial system decides on a ruling, according to Gabe Feldman, NFL Legal Analyst, while talking to NFL reporters.

The “214” duo did indeed pull out a 19-3 win on Sunday, Sept. 10 versus the New York Giants. Elliott had 24 rushing attempts and 104 rushing yards, along with five receives. Now, it’s the court’s move.

“It could be that the suspension is reinstated somewhere down the line, but it looks like for now that Elliott will play most if not all of this season,” Feldman said on NFL Network’s Up to the Minute Live, according to an article posted on the NFL website.