Ezekiel Elliott - Pro Football Rumors

NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Elliott, Norman

October 3rd, 2017 at 1:01pm CST by Zachary Links

The NFL says it expects a decision from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Ezekiel Elliott’s appeal “soon,” ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. Of course, we’ve been here before, but that verbiage may mean that we’ll have a resolution on the Cowboys running back before the end of business on Tuesday.

If the CA5 ruling does not come down today, the league will have to decide how to handle Elliott’s status for Week 5. Earlier this year, the league allowed the running back to play in the season opener when arbitrator Harold Henderson could not reach a decision by the previous Tuesday. If the judge is similarly delayed, it remains to be seen whether the NFL will allow Elliott to go against the Packers on Sunday.

Here’s more from the NFC East:

Redskins cornerback Josh Norman has a “significant” rib injury and will miss a “couple of weeks,” coach Jay Gruden told ESPN’s Lisa Salters (link via PFT). Norman left Monday night’s game holding his ribs with roughly two minutes to go in the first half. Testing on Tuesday will reveal the full extent of Norman’s injury. The team is concerned about internal injury, particularly with regard to his lungs (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com).
The Cowboys miss Doug Free‘s experience and Ronald Leary‘s run blocking, Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News opines. Free retired this offseason while Leary left the team in free agency to sign with Denver.

East Rumors: Cowboys, Elliott, Jets, Giants

October 2nd, 2017 at 6:58pm CST by Zachary Links

Despite some optimism about a potential court ruling on Monday, the Ezekiel Elliott saga is ongoing. If things are still in limbo by the end of business Tuesday, we still don’t know whether or not the NFL will allow the Cowboys running back to play, as Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. There will be no decision from the league on that matter until the judge makes his decision. The Cowboys are set to face the Packers on Sunday afternoon in Dallas.

Here’s more from the East divisions:

Jets coach Todd Bowles says he hasn’t made a decision yet on wide receiver Jalin Marshall, who is eligible to return after serving a four-game suspension (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini). There may not be a place for Marshall on the team at this time, so it is a situation to monitor. Already, the Jets have five receivers on the roster in Jeremy Kerley, Robby Anderson, Jermaine Kearse, ArDarius Stewart, and Chad Hansen with Kerley handling punts and Stewart on kickoff return duty.
The x-rays came back negative on the ribs of Giants running back Paul Perkins and a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) that he likely just bruised them. Perkins’ pain tolerance for pain will now dictate whether he misses time.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott says safety Colt Anderson will need surgery for his forearm (Twitter link via Joe Buscaglia of WKBW). Anderson has yet to see time on defense but is a regular on special teams. The injury will likely land him on IR.

East Rumors: Pouncey, Elliott, Pats, Eagles

October 1st, 2017 at 9:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

Mike Pouncey has played in each of the Dolphins‘ three games this season after missing 11 2016 contests. But he gave a sobering glimpse into his future in the NFL, with the hip injury he suffered last season looking like a seminal setback. The perennial Pro Bowl blocker said the length of his career will be determined by how his hip holds up, adding that he will need hip-replacement surgery in the next “five to 10 years.””

“[My hip] always feels tight. … I don’t have a normal hip,” Pouncey said, via Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. “We’ll see. I can’t predict the future. I’m listening to a doctor tell me. I feel right now; I don’t need [a replacement]. But we’ll see.”

This process would end Pouncey’s career, but for now, the 28-year-old blocker continues to anchor Miami’s line. He spent the offseason recovering from the hip malady and continues to operate on a partial practice schedule, taking Thursdays off — a pattern Pouncey sees continuing for the foreseeable future. The seventh-year player is signed through the 2020 season.

Here’s the latest from several East Coast teams (and the Cowboys).

Monday’s Ezekiel Elliott-vs.-NFL battle is expected to produce a decision within the next two weeks, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports. While the Cowboys running back isn’t sure he will venture to New Orleans where his legal team and the NFLPA will represent him in this saga’s latest courtroom chapter, the Fifth District Court of Appeals could free him up to play the rest of the season or reinstate his six-game suspension. Neither side is interested in a settlement, however.
The Patriots have given up the most points through four games thus far. Usually supporting Tom Brady with an upper-echelon defense, the Pats should be discussing a Jimmy Garoppolo trade to bring in some help to capitalize on the 40-year-old starter’s closing dominance window, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes. New England held onto its backup quarterback despite interest this offseason, and La Canfora notes a Malcolm Butler trade wouldn’t bring in what a Garoppolo shipment would. That said, the Pats have just $5.4MM in cap space — so any defender help they could be targeting would probably have to be on a rookie contract, as Garoppolo ($1.17MM cap figure) is. La Canfora suggests the 49ers, armed with several rookie-deal defenders and no long-term quarterback answer, as a fit for this hypothetical scenario. A deal of this sort would also need to involve a Garoppolo extension, since he’s months away from free agency.
Jake Elliott is making a strong case to supplant the injured Caleb Sturgis as the Eagles‘ full-time kicker, Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com writes. Signed off the Bengals’ practice squad, Elliott hit four more field goals in the Eagles’ win over the Chargers after his 61-yard game-winner last week. Frank notes Elliott already has two 53-plus-yard field goals in two games. Sturgis has three in 30 Philly contests. A fifth-year veteran, Sturgis remains on the Eagles’ 53-man roster and is rehabbing a hip flexor strain.
Jim Tomsula‘s impact is already being observed in Washington, John Keim of ESPN.com notes. Redskins defenders have told Keim about the former 49ers head coach’s presence leading to an improved defensive line. Washington hired Tomsula as its D-line coach this year, and he’s helped a unit that lost starters Chris Baker and Ricky Jean-Francois in the offseason. Tomsula spent eight seasons as the 49ers’ defensive line coach before his one-season stay as the franchise’s HC. He did not coach last season.

NFL Not Discussing Ezekiel Elliott Settlement

September 29th, 2017 at 12:51pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The NFL has not discussed a possible settlement with Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott‘s attorneys, according to Tom Pelisserio of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Elliott, who is facing a six-game suspension stemming from domestic violence allegations, will be uniform when Dallas faces the Rams on Sunday, as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will begin deliberations the following Monday. A three-judge panel — one that holds a pro-business view that could favor the NFL, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk — will decide whether Elliot’s injunction against the league was filed within the correct jurisdiction.

The NFL will essentially argue that Elliott’s case was the “wrong suit in the wrong court at the wrong time,” tweets David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. If the court rules from the bench (something a source tells Florio to expect) and dismisses the injunction, the case will be sent to New York federal court, where the league already filed a lawsuit.

Elliott, for his part, is reportedly not willing to accept any settlement that would involve accepting any blame. The NFL, meanwhile, won’t absolve him, so there is apparently no middle ground where an agreement could be struck.

Latest On Ezekiel Elliott Case

September 28th, 2017 at 9:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL will have its latest opportunity to gain the upper hand in its battle with Ezekiel Elliott and the NFLPA when the sides convene Monday in New Orleans for the Fifth District Court of Appeals hearing. However, the league is attempting to take action that will send this case elsewhere.

Based on the notion Elliott filed his initial appeal of his six-game suspension before league-appointed arbiter Harold Henderson issued his ruling, the NFL asked a federal appeals court to lift the injunction — one that’s allowing the Cowboys running back to play while his case traverses the legal system, according to Schuyler Dixon of the Associated Press. The league wants the case dismissed and Elliott to begin serving his suspension.

Both sides will have a chance to present oral arguments to the appellate court Monday afternoon. The NFL is arguing the Texas judge that granted Elliott’s injunction, Amos Mazzant, did not have jurisdiction regarding this subject matter since the appeal came before Henderson’s ruling. The NFLPA countered by saying Mazzant did, in fact, have jurisdiction because Henderson rejected a request allow testimony from Roger Goodell or accuser Tiffany Thompson during Elliott’s appeal hearing, thus prompting Elliott’s lawsuit in Texas to start the legal proceedings.

The NFL’s attempt being successful would send this case to New York federal court, where the league already filed a lawsuit. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes the NFL believes it has a much better chance of winning this case there.

Elliott remains eligible for Sunday’s Week 4 game against the Rams, but more legal jargon will be coming Monday after a critical day in his case ensues.

Latest On Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott

September 22nd, 2017 at 3:54pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys will have Ezekiel Elliott in uniform when they face the Cardinals on Monday night. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will not hold oral arguments until Monday, October 2, sports attorney Daniel Wallach has learned (Twitter link).

The NFL was pressing the Fifth Circuit for an emergency stay in the Elliott case, essentially reversing a previous decision from a lower court. The league was hoping for a ruling sooner rather than later, but Roger Goodell & Co. will have to wait longer to see if/when they can enact the six-game suspension on the running back.

Had the league won the decision on Friday, a suspension for Monday night would have been in play. In theory, the league may have even suspended Elliott hours before kickoff with a legal victory during business hours on Monday. Now they won’t have the opportunity to bench Elliott until October, at least. At minimum, we’ll see Elliott on the field through Week 4 when the Cowboys face the Rams.

Ezekiel Elliott Rumors: Friday

September 22nd, 2017 at 11:06am CST by Zachary Links

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has yet to rule on the Ezekiel Elliott case, and that could be good news for the running back. The league has petitioned the court with urgent language to quickly deliver a ruling, but the judge is clearly not taking those directives to heart. That doesn’t mean that things will go Elliott’s way, per se, but it could be a prelude to an Elliott victory.

Here’s the latest on Elliott and his legal battle with the NFL:

The league still won’t rule out suspending Elliott before Monday night’s game against the Cardinals if they win in court, a league spokesman tells PFT’s Michael David Smith. Today marks the last business day of the week, but if the ruling comes down before the lights shut off, commissioner Roger Goodell may put Elliott’s six-game suspension into effect immediately. In theory, if a ruling comes down on Monday, the league could enact the suspension before kickoff. If that’s the case, Elliott will be sidelined for games against the Cardinals, Rams, Packers, 49ers, Redskins, and Chiefs. He would not be eligible to return until Nov. 12 against the Falcons.

Ezekiel Elliott Rumors: Wednesday

September 20th, 2017 at 10:35am CST by Zachary Links

Before the start of the season, Ezekiel Elliott‘s legal team won a preliminary injunction against the league, allowing the running back to play while things get hashed out in the courts. The NFL moved for a stay of that injunction with the same judge, but they were denied, allowing Elliott to take the field again in Week 2. The league hasn’t stopped its fight, however, and they’ve advanced the battle to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

What does this all mean for Elliott’ status on Monday night against the Cardinals and beyond? Here’s the latest on Zeke:

The NFL says that if a stay is granted on the Elliott suspension, and it came late in week, commissioner Roger Goodell would decide when the suspension starts, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets. We have two-and-a-half business days to go in the week, but still there’s no guarantee that CA5 will reach a decision in that timeframe. If they do, it will be up to Goodell as to when the six-game ban begins. Given the protracted nature of this struggle between the league office and Elliott, it wouldn’t be surprising if Goodell moved to start the suspension right away if the stay is granted.
The fact that the Fifth Circuit didn’t feel the need to rule on Tuesday is a good sign for Elliott, one source close to the situation (presumably, on Elliott’s side) tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter). At minimum, it seems that the court is not taking the league’s urgent language to heart.

Latest On Ezekiel Elliott

September 18th, 2017 at 11:56am CST by Zachary Links

The NFL has lost the latest battle in the legal system against Ezekiel Elliott, but the courtroom war is not yet over. The NFL’s emergency motion for a stay of the preliminary injunction has been denied by judge Amos L. Mazzant (Twitter link via sports attorney Daniel Wallach). The league is now taking its case to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in hopes that a stay will be granted and the suspension will be put into effect immediately.

If the NFL wins at the Fifth Circuit level, Elliott’s suspension will go into effect immediately, taking him out of action for games against the Cardinals, Rams, Packers, 49ers, Redskins, and Chiefs. He would not be able to return until Nov. 12 when the Cowboys travel to Atlanta to face the Falcons.

Elliott has never been arrested or charged with a crime, but his name has appeared in at least four investigations concerning assault, battery, domestic violence, and disorderly conduct in the last three years and change.

Elliott was stifled by the Broncos’ D on Sunday, rushing for just eight yards off of nine carries. He also took a great deal of criticism for not chasing down Broncos corner Chris Harris after he intercepted a pass in the third quarter.

East Rumors: Redskins, Elliott, Cutler

September 17th, 2017 at 10:35am CST by Rory Parks

Redskins safety Su’a Cravens is expected to report to the team Tuesday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Cravens, of course, informed the club several weeks ago that he intended to retire only to reverse his decision almost immediately. Cravens has been in contact with head coach Jay Gruden, and the two have discussed football and life issues. As Rapoport suggests, the fact that Cravens is reporting does not necessarily mean that he will suit up right away, given that he is battling an injury and, as his recent history suggests, may be at a crossroads in his young life. Nonetheless, it is a positive step for one of the more promising defensive talents in the league.

Now for more from the league’s east divisions:

The Redskins reshuffled their front office in June, but per Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, the team considered adding another executive during training camp. Washington reportedly brought in James “Shack” Harris, Charles Bailey, Bill Kuharich, and Ron Hill to watch practice and meet with other staffers, but the team ultimately decided to stand pat and does not plan to make any other additions at this time.
Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has never been arrested or charged with a crime, but since June 2014, Elliott’s name has appeared in at least four investigations concerning assault, battery, domestic violence, and disorderly conduct, as Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News writes. The entire piece is well worth a read, and it suggests a troubling pattern of behavior that Elliott will need to correct in order to live up to his sky-high potential.
Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald says Dolphins quarterback Jay Cutler has impressed the team with his demeanor and work ethic, and if he plays well this season, Salguero writes that Miami would consider re-signing him and trading Ryan Tannehill, thereby creating a great deal of cap room and netting an early draft choice in the process. We are a long way from that happening, of course, but if Cutler somehow becomes a modern-day Jim Plunkett, Tannehill could be on a different sideline in 2018.
We recently learned that the Dolphins were interested in trading for Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, but Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes that Miami went hard after the star DB, making attempts to land him both back early in the free-agency signing period and as recently as last month.
Patriots LB Dont’a Hightower was riding a stationary bike after he left the team’s Week 1 contest with a right knee injury, leading to optimism that he might be ready for Week 2. However, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports that Hightower sought a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews last week, which Hightower did not deny. Problems with his right knee forced Hightower to begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list, and given that New England’s defense clearly needs him, this is a situation worth monitoring.