Dallas star out six games over abuse case
NFL comes down hard on Elliott following internal investigation
DALLAS The NFL suspended star Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott for six games Friday following a year-long investigation into reports the league’s leading rusher injured his former girlfriend in three separate incidents last summer.
According to the letter Elliott received informing him of the suspension, the NFL believed he used “physical force” three times in a span of five days in a Columbus, Ohio, apartment last July resulting in injuries to Tiffany Thompson’s face, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, wrists, hips and knees. She was his girlfriend at the time.
Prosecutors in Columbus decided nearly a year ago not to pursue the case in the city where Elliott starred for Ohio State. The league said its investigation was based on photographs, text messages and other electronic evidence. Commissioner Roger Goodell made his decision based on the findings and in consultation with four advisers, including Hall of Fame player Ken Houston.
The 22-year-old Elliot has three days to appeal the ruling, which his legal team said he would do while blasting the decision.
“The NFL’s findings are replete with factual inaccuracies and erroneous conclusions and it ‘cherry picks’ so-called evidence to support its conclusion while ignoring other critical evidence,” lawyers Frank Salzano and Scott Rosenblum said in a joint statement. “During the upcoming weeks and through the appeal, a slew of additional credible and controverting evidence will come to light.”
The ruling requires Elliott to get an evaluation to determine whether he needs counselling or treatment, and to show proof that he is following up on any recommendations.
NFL special counsel for conduct Todd Jones wrote in the letter to Elliott that advisers “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.”
Last September, the office of Columbus City Attorney Richard Pfeiffer cited conflicting and inconsistent information in the evidence in deciding against criminal charges. Pfeiffer’s office declined to comment Friday.
Peter Harvey, one of the advisers to Goodell, said the NFL had access to forensic electronic evidence that prosecutors didn’t have. Harvey said an example was proof that photographs were taken by Thompson the same day she alleged she was injured by Elliott.
Harvey also said some of the explanations offered by Elliott’s representatives, including that Thompson was injured in a fight with a woman or by falling down stairs, weren’t supported by evidence.
The NFL revised its personal conduct policy in 2014. The policy gave Goodell authority to suspend players for at least six games in domestic cases, with or without a conviction.
The NFL’s letter to Elliott cited the Ohio case as well as an incident this past spring when Elliott was caught on video pulling down a woman’s shirt while watching a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dallas.
While the league said the St. Patrick’s Day incident wasn’t part of the decision on discipline, it reflected poorly on Elliott.
The Associated Press