Following reports that Ezekiel Elliott had been suspended for the first six games of the upcoming season, the Cowboys running back released a statement regarding the punishment (via Twitter):
“I am both surprised and disappointed by the NFL’s decision today, and I strongly disagree with the League’s findings.
“I recognize the distraction and disruption that all of this has caused my family, teammates, the Dallas Cowboys organization as well as my fans — for that I am sincerely sorry.
“I admit that I am far from perfect, but I plan to continue to work very hard, on and off the field, to mature and earn the great opportunity that I have been given.”
We learned last night that Elliott was planning on appealing the suspension.
Let’s take a look at some other notes pertaining to the Cowboys and their star running back…
- According to ProFootballTalk.com’s Charean Williams, TMZ had obtained eight photos showing bruises on Elliott’s former girlfriend. The photos were part of the evidence used by the NFL during their investigation, and the league confirmed that the pictures were nothing new. Experts said the bruises were consistent with abuse, although Elliott claims his ex-girlfriend suffered the injuries at a bar.
- If the suspension ultimately stands, SiriusXM’s Alex Marvez points out (via Twitter) that the Cowboys would owe the NFL $186K “per remittance policy for suspended players.”
- Jerry Jones defended Elliott and questioned the league’s investigation throughout the offseason. Now, as CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora writes, the Cowboys owner has some explaining to do. If Jones was actually aware of the extent of the NFL’s evidence and case against Elliott, then the writer believes the owner deserves criticism. On the flip side, if Jones wasn’t aware, his speaking “in such a cavalier fashion without any true indications of what the league was discerning” also isn’t a good look.
- Joe Lockhart, the NFL’s top communications chief, discusses Jones’ consistent dismissal of the investigation. “I don’t think we have a comment, one way or the other, on anything that anyone else in this case, that involved in this case or looked at this case, or commented on this case,” he told La Canfora. “I can say that we believe this investigation was thorough, exhaustive and fair to all parties involved.”
- USA Today’s A.J. Perez writes about Elliott’s options going forward, referring to the former suspensions for Adrian Peterson, Ray Rice, and Tom Brady.
Wait, Jerry Jones was running his mouth?
How can this be???