Ezekiel Elliott - Pro Football Rumors

Latest On Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott

September 16th, 2017 at 9:08am CST by Ben Levine

The NFL has filed its “appeal and an emergency motion for a stay” on the Ezekiel Elliott ruling, reports Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (via Twitter). The reporter notes that the NFL is specifically asking for that stay by September 26th, at which time (if successful) the running back would presumably serve his suspension. The league’s request is below (via Garafolo on Twitter):

“To minimize disruptive uncertainty, the NFL requests a stay ruling ideally by September 19, 2017 (when Week 3 practices begin), but no later than September 26, 2017 (Week 4). The NFL stands ready to brief the appeal with whatever degree of expedition this Court deems appropriate. But the process of remedying the district court’s massive overreach should begin as promptly as possible by staying its unprecedented and indefensible order.”

Let’s take a look at some other notes on the Elliott ordeal:

Predictably, Elliott’s team released a statement following the NFL’s decision to file an appeal (via Ian Rapoport on Twitter): “The NFL’s latest legal maneuvering appears to be indicative of a league with an agenda: Trying to navigate a public relations crisis rather than focus on fairness and fact finding. The only conclusion that can be drawn is that the NFL believes it can write its own rules and will stop at nothing to further its agenda of enforcing its unfounded assertions regarding Mr. Elliott. Most recently this would include the NFL seeking an expedited hearing on staying the preliminary injunction by frivolously arguing that the NFL is somehow ‘irreparably harmed’ by Elliott playing while the Courts decide whether the investigation and appeal was fundamentally unfair. Mr. Elliott and his team will continue to zealously oppose any of the NFL’s court filings.”
Sports Illustrated’s Michael McCann notes that Judge Amos Mazzant’s decisions aren’t usually reversed. Since be became a federal judge in 2009, 19 of his decisions have been appealed…with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversing those decisions only twice. Of course, as the writer notes, the same could be said for Judge Richard Berman, whose decision in favor of quarterback Tom Brady was reversed.
While the NFL is hoping to have the process wrapped up relatively quickly, precedent says that that might not be the case. McCann notes that the Brady appeal took seven months, while Adrian Peterson‘s appeal took 17 months. On the flip side, the previous appeals “challenged a federal district judge vacating an arbitration award,” while the current appeal is in regards to “a preliminary injunction.” Ultimately, the timing of the decision could play a significant role in whether Elliott will be suspended this season.

Latest On Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott

September 13th, 2017 at 10:37am CST by Dallas Robinson

The judge involved in Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott‘s legal case has requested the NFLPA and the NFL offer filings by 5pm Wednesday and Friday, respectively, according to Tom Peliserro of USA Today (Twitter link), which means it’s a “virtual certainty” Elliott plays against the Broncos on Sunday. As was the case in Week 1, the NFL has taken the position that a delay in a ruling means Elliott will be available for the week in which a decision is handed down.

Here’s more on the Elliott saga:

The “expedited” appeals process in the Elliott case will be similar to that of the Tom Brady/Deflategate timeline, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), meaning arguments will be held in September, followed by a hearing in January and a decision in April. That is, of course, a court grants a stay in the case, something the NFL is requesting. League spokesman Joe Lockhart indicated Elliott won’t be placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt list, tweets Rapoport.
Elliott and the NFL aren’t likely to reach a settlement that would absolve the second-year back of domestic violence responsibility, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Given that Elliott has been unwilling to accept any blame, there is “no middle ground” on which the two parties can land. Instead, Elliott is expected to be either banned for six games or zero games.
The NFL did not ask Elliott’s accuser, Tiffany Thompson, to testify under oath, as Florio writes in a separate piece. While the league doesn’t hold subpoena power, Thompson did agree to be interviewed by the NFL on six occasions, meaning she may have been willing to offer testimony. However, the league reportedly is wary of placing domestic violence victims in “awkward and uncomfortable” situations, per Florio.

NFC Notes: Elliott, Reed, Saints

September 10th, 2017 at 11:56am CST by Rory Parks

As we get prepared for the first slate of Sunday games in 2017, let’s take a quick swing around the NFC:

Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott was granted a temporary restraining order against the NFL, thereby putting his six-game suspension on hold and allowing him to be available for the remainder of the season while his case is sorted out. However, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that the NFL is considering appealing that restraining order and is still discussing the matter with its attorneys.
The toe injury that has been ailing Redskins TE Jordan Reed is actually a fracture in his big toe that impacts the way he runs, and he will be battling that injury for at least the early part of the season, as Rapoport writes. Reed is one of the most talented tight ends in the league, but he has yet to play a full 16-game season.
The Eagles have returned the 2019 seventh-round selection they received from the Saints in the Jon Dorenbos trade in light of Dorenbos’ need for heart surgery and his release from New Orleans via injury settlement, as Howard Eskin of 94 WIP reports (via Twitter).
Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro is eligible for unrestricted free agency next offseason, but Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune does not expect the two sides to agree to an extension during the season. He still believes they will reach a long-term deal at some point next year, but as Vaccaro’s value is up for debate, the team may prefer to see how he performs in 2017 before making a big commitment to him.
Rams head coach Sean McVay was a key figure in getting star DT Aaron Donald to end his holdout, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Rather than traveling with the team to Green Bay for the Rams’ final preseason game, McVay went to Atlanta with Rams executives to meet with Donald’s representatives, and his presence underscored how important Donald was to McVay and to Los Angeles. It also helped to facilitate dialogue between the two sides.
Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com believes the Lions will wait to see if any of their young talent along the defensive line breaks out before going after an established veteran. Detroit’s pass rush is currently suspect at best, but the team could be hesitant to make a move until next week because if a veteran signs before the first game, his salary is guaranteed for the year. Plus, it’s not as though the free agent market is currently brimming with DL talent, as former Lions Wallace Gilberry and Darryl Tapp are among the best players available.

Reactions To Ezekiel Elliott’s Injunction Ruling

September 9th, 2017 at 9:56am CST by Ben Levine

We learned yesterday that Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott had been granted a temporary restraining order against the NFL. The player’s six-game suspension is now on hold, and he’ll be allowed to play the upcoming season as the case is resolved. Ultimately, the judge found that Elliott “did not receive a fundamentally fair hearing, necessitating the Court grant the request.”

An NFL spokesman released a statement following the decision (via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo on Twitter):

“We strongly believe that the investigation and evidence supported the Commissioner’s decision and that the process was meticulous and fair throughout. We will review the decision in greater detail and discuss next steps with counsel, both in the district court and federal court of appeals.”

Meanwhile, the NFLPA released a statement, citing the league office’s lack of integrity (via Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com):

“Commissioner discipline will continue to be a distraction from our game for one reason: because NFL owners have refused to collectively bargain a fair and transparent process that exists in other sports. This ‘imposed’ system remains problematic for players and the game, but as the honest and honorable testimony of a few NFL employees recently revealed, it also demonstrates the continued lack of integrity within their own League office.”

Let’s take a look at some other reactions regarding the Elliott decision…

There were several factors that went into Judge Amos L. Mazzant III’s decision, writes Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com. For starters, the judge had concerns about the credibility of Tiffany Thompson, and he believed Elliott’s team should have been allowed to cross-examine her. Furthermore, the question marks surrounding “the opinions and conclusions of NFL Director of Investigations Kia Roberts” should have resulted in testimony from commissioner Roger Goodell, which did not happen. Finally, the judge cited “[f]undamental unfairness” that had plagued the case since the beginning.
Florio also points out a footnote in the ruling, noting that Judge Mazzant could still dismiss the entire case based on the fact that it was filed prematurely. The NFL is still required to file essential paperwork, and the judge could subsequently decide to “punt” the case in “deference to the lawsuit the NFL filed in New York.” In this case, Elliott would once again be forced to get an injunction so he can continue to play. However, Florio believes this is unlikely, as the judge will presumably keep “control of the case in order to ensure that the case is processed with the benefit of his conclusion.”
Elliott’s attorneys released a statement following the decision (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Twitter): “We just learned of the Honorable Amos Mazzant’s decision to grant Mr. Elliott’s request for a preliminary injunction staying the NFL’s six-game suspension. We are very pleased that Mr. Elliott will finally be given the opportunity to have an impartial decision-maker carefully examine the NFL’s misconduct. This is just the beginning of the unveiling of the NFL’s mishandling as it relates to Mr. Elliott’s suspension. As the Court noted, the question of whether Mr. Elliott received a fundamentally fair hearing answered… “he did not”. We agree.”

Ezekiel Elliott Granted Restraining Order

September 8th, 2017 at 5:19pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has been granted a temporary restraining order against the NFL, tweets Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com. Elliott is now expected to be available for the remainder of the season while his case is sorted out, and his six-game suspension stemming from domestic violence allegations is on hold.

A judge found that Elliott “did not receive a fundamentally fair hearing, necessitating the Court grant the request” for a restraining order, per Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link). Because neither Elliott’s accuser nor NFL comissioner Roger Goodell was allowed to testify at said hearing, Judge Amos Mazzant accepted Elliott’s request. The risk in asking for a restraining order is that the case is decided in November or December, according to Breer (Twitter link), which could lead to Elliott missing critical games late in the season.

Elliot’s ban was upheld last week, but he was still going to be able to play in Dallas’ season opener against the Giants on Sunday night thanks to the NFL’s policy of not imposing suspensions if an appeal decision isn’t made by 4pm ET on a Tuesday. However, Elliott had been set to miss games against the Broncos, Cardinals, Rams, Packers, 49ers, and Redskins.

Elliott, the fourth overall selection in the 2016 draft, has accused the NFL of fomenting a conspiracy against him, and the dispute has gotten ugly from all angles. Elliott and his camp have cast doubt on the consistency of his accuser’s claims and suggested her motives were profit-based, while the NFL has accused Elliott of victim-shaming.

On the field, Elliott is one of the league’s more dynamic talents, as he lead the NFL in rushing yards while scoring 15 times a year ago.

Ezekiel Elliott’s Suspension Upheld

September 5th, 2017 at 7:22pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Arbitrator Harold Henderson has upheld Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott‘s six-game suspension, per Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Elliott will still play in Week 1 against the Giants, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, as the NFL typically doesn’t implement suspensions when a decision is made after 4pm ET on a Tuesday. Instead, Elliott will begin his suspension in Week 2, and will subsequently miss games against the Broncos, Cardinals, Rams, Packers, 49ers, and Redskins.

Of course, the battle may not yet be concluded even after a yearlong investigation into domestic violence allegations against Elliott, a suspension, and a unsuccessful appeal. Elliott has vowed to take his case to court, and a judge is expected to rule on a restraining order against the NFL by 5pm ET on Friday, tweets Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. If that order is accepted, Elliott will likely be available to play out the entire season, according to Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com (Twitter link).

Elliott, the fourth overall selection in the 2016 draft, has accused the NFL of a conspiracy against him, and the dispute has gotten ugly from all angles. Elliott and his camp have cast doubt on the consistency of his accuser’s claims and suggested her motives were profit-based, while the NFL has accused Elliott of victim-shaming. Nevertheless, Elliott plans to fight his ban to the “complete exhaustion of his legal options,” a source tells Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link).

On the field, Elliott is one of the league’s more dynamic talents, as he lead the NFL in rushing yards while scoring 15 times a year ago. Without him, the Cowboys will turn to a trio of Darren McFadden, Alfred Morris, and Rod Smith to run behind arguably the league’s best offensive lines.

Ezekiel Elliott Ruling To Come Down Today

September 5th, 2017 at 12:12pm CST by Zachary Links

The Ezekiel Elliott saga could be coming to a close. Hearing officer Harold Henderson has informed all parties that he will render his ruling by the close of business on Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

After a yearlong investigation into domestic violence accusations made against him, Elliott was slapped with a six-game suspension this summer. Both Elliott and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones have said that the allegations are without merit and the running back’s camp has vowed to fight the ban until all options have been exhausted. That includes appealing through the highest levels of the justice system, so Elliott’s battle could continue if the suspension is not overturned or significantly reduced today.

If Elliott does not win his appeal or at least have the suspension reduced, he will miss games against the Giants, Broncos, Cardinals, Rams, Packers, and 49ers. Because the Cowboys have a Week 6 bye, an upheld suspension would delay his 2017 debut until October 29th when the Cowboys take on the Redskins.

Ezekiel Elliott Accuses NFL Of “Conspiracy”

September 1st, 2017 at 10:33am CST by Zachary Links

Things just keep getting uglier in Ezekiel Elliott‘s fight with the league office. The Cowboys’ star running back has filed suit against the NFL in Texas federal court, alleging that he is the victim of a “league-orchestrated conspiracy…to hide critical information” from commissioner Roger Goodell and other key decision makers.

Elliott’s camp argues that the league’s director of investigations, Kia Roberts, found accuser Tiffany Thompson to be “not credible” in her allegations and saw little evidence to support her claims. His team alleges that the league then kept Roberts away from meetings in which experts made recommendations to Goodell. Furthermore, Roberts chronicled her concerns about Thompson in an internal memo entitled “Tiffany Thompson Inconsistency Transcripts,” a league source told Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports.

The NFL denies any wrongdoing.

“They’re trying to create a grand conspiracy story where none exists,” league spokesman Joe Lockhart told Tom Pelissero of NFL.com.

Lockhart says there is no truth to allegations that the league kept Roberts’ concerns away from Goodell. In fact, he says the commissioner was aware of her doubts heading into the aforementioned meetings. At the same time, Lockhart says that it is not common for someone in Roberts’ role to make a disciplinary recommendation.

“In fact, at Kia’s level, she wouldn’t, and she didn’t [make a recommendation for discipline],” Lockhart said. “She made her point of view on particularly the credibility issues known in the report; they are reflected in the report. It is the commissioner and the commissioner’s sole role to decide on discipline. In fact, the union filed a grievance to force him not to delegate the decision [on disciplinary decisions].”

Latest On Ezekiel Elliott

August 31st, 2017 at 8:51pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The NFL handed Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott a six-game suspension stemming from domestic violence allegations earlier this month, but the league’s director of investigations, Kia Roberts, recommended no ban for the running back, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Roberts’ decision came after interviewing Tiffany Thompson, Elliott’s ex-girlfriend who accused him in June 2016 of committing physical violence against her on multiple occasions. Despite Roberts’ key role in the investigation, her suggestion didn’t make it into the NFL’s final report and its suspension letter, notes Hill. Further, Roberts wasn’t present during a commissioner Roger Goodell-led meeting that centered on potential disciplinary measures for Elliott, Hill adds.

Senior vice president of investigations Lisa Friel was among those in attendance with Goodell, and it was Friel who advised a six-game suspension to the commissioner, according to Hill. The fact that Goodell ultimately did hand down that penalty to Elliott left Cowboys owner Jerry Jones “furious,” in part because he expected Elliott to elude punishment. A top official with the NFL informed Jones that the league would not discipline Elliott, Hill relays.

Elliott appealed his suspension this week during a hearing that spanned three days and over 25 hours, and his side testified that Friel banned Roberts from the aforementioned meeting, Hill reports. Roberts, who was also on hand, testified Tuesday that she was the only league employee to interview Thompson, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN.com. Roberts also confirmed that she would not have recommended discipline for Elliott had she been part of the decision-making committee – one that Hill reports consisted of former New Jersey attorney general Peter Harvey, Pro Football Hall of Famer Ken Houston, chief executive of the Women of Color Network Inc. Tonya Lovelace and former U.S. attorney and ex-chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission Mary Jo White. Friel provided testimony on Wednesday and corroborated that of Roberts, Graziano writes.

Hill contends the hearing went well for Elliott’s camp, noting that the league lacks solid proof that he abused Thompson. Both that and the NFL’s unwillingness to listen to Roberts would not bode well for the league in federal court, Hill posits. Elliott could file a lawsuit against the league if hearing officer Harold Henderson doesn’t overturn or reduce the suspension, and Graziano suggests that the NFLPA is ready to fight in court if necessary. Henderson is reportedly “under pressure” to make a decision by Monday.

Ezekiel Elliott Decision To Come On Monday?

August 31st, 2017 at 12:49pm CST by Zachary Links

Finally, we could be getting some closure in the Ezekiel Elliott case. Harold Henderson, the appeals officer in the Elliott hearing, is under pressure to reach a decision by Monday, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).

The Cowboys are operating under the belief thatElliott will play in the season opener if a ruling doesn’t come by Tuesday at 3pm, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News tweets. That could explain why the league is pushing Henderson to wrap things up by Monday.

Of course, if Elliott doesn’t have his suspension overturned or reduced, he may still take his battle to the legal system. It has been reported that Elliott is furious over his six-game ban and is vowing to fight the league on it until he has exhausted all options.

On Wednesday, Elliott personally spoke on the domestic abuse allegations against him. Thursday’s portion of the hearing included analysis from a doctor who has analyzed photos of the alleged victim’s injuries. The multi-day hearing has now concluded and it’s time for Henderson to reach his verdict.

If Elliott does not have the suspension overturned or trimmed down, he will miss games against the Giants, Broncos, Cardinals, Rams, Packers, and 49ers.