US judge blocks Elliott’s suspension
Decision likely allows Cowboys RB to play entire season as the case makes its way through court
>> NEW YORK: A US federal judge granted on Friday a request by Dallas Cowboys player Ezekiel Elliott for a temporary restraining order to stave off the implementation of a six-game suspension.
Elliott’s suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy was set to begin on Monday, one day after he was eligible to compete in the Cowboys’ season-opening game against the New York Giants.
“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,” lawyers for Elliott said on Friday night. “This is just the beginning of the unveiling of the NFL’s mishandling as it relates to Mr Elliott’s suspension.”
Elliott posted a video on Instagram with the caption: “Momma told me if ya fall never stay down.”
With the injunction from US District Court Judge Amos Mazzant on Friday, Elliott likely will be able to continue playing as the legal process unfolds.
And there is a strong chance the 22-year-old will be allowed to play the entire season as the case remains in the courts, US media reported.
“The question before the court is merely whether Elliott received a fundamentally fair hearing before the arbitrator,” Mazzant wrote in his ruling.
“The answer is he did not. The court finds, based upon the injunction standard, that Elliott was denied a fundamentally fair hearing by [arbitrator Harold] Henderson’s refusal to allow [former girlfriend Tiffany] Thompson and [NFL Commissioner Roger] Goodell to testify at the arbitration hearing.
“Their absence... effectively deprived Elliott of any chance to have a fundamentally fair hearing. The court grants the request for preliminary injunction.”
Elliott, who was never arrested or charged by the police in the incident, has maintained his innocence after being accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend.
The original punishment was issued by Goodell on Aug 11 after a 13-month league investigation.
The Cowboys did not comment on the court’s decision.
Elliott, the fourth overall pick in the 2016 draft, led the NFL in rushing with 1,631 yards during his rookie season.
Meanwhile, the NFL slapped Josh Brown with an additional six-game suspension for violating the personal conduct policy due to domestic violence accusations.
The former New York Giant kicker served a one-game suspension at the start of the 2016 season after domestic violence allegations were made by his ex-wife.
“We reopened the investigation based on new info,” the NFL said in a text to American sports broadcaster ESPN.
“Concluded there was a violation of our personal conduct policy and imposed six-game suspension, which he accepted without appeal.”
The new ban is mostly a procedural move since the 38-year-old Brown hasn’t kicked in the NFL since the Giants cut him loose in October.
Brown is expected to begin serving the six-game suspension immediately even though he remains unsigned. He was never charged by police.