Judge blocks Elliott’s suspension over domestic case
A federal judge blocked Dallas Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott’s sixgame suspension over a domestic violence case Friday, setting the stage for a potentially lengthy legal fight with the NFL.
Last year’s league rushing leader was already cleared to play in the opener against the Giants on Sunday night before the ruling by U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant.
Mazzant agreed with players’ union lawyers that Elliott didn’t receive a “fundamentally fair” hearing in his appeal and he granted the NFL Players’ Association request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction blocking the league’s punishment.
Elliott was suspended by Commissioner Roger Goodell in August after the league concluded he had several physical confrontations last summer with Tiffany Thompson, a former girlfriend. Prosecutors in Ohio didn’t pursue the case, citing conflicting evidence.
“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,” Elliott’s attorneys said in joint statement. “This is just the beginning of the NFL’s mishandling as it relates to Mr. Elliott’s suspension.”
Arbitrator Harold Henderson turned down Elliott’s appeal of the suspension the same day as the hearing in federal court.
Mazzant ruled that Henderson’s decision not to allow Goodell and Thompson to testify helped Elliott’s case in meeting the standard for an injunction to be issued.
Beckham Jr. is 50-50 for Giants opener
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. » Odell Beckham Jr. has been listed as questionable for the New York Giants’ season opener against the Cowboys in Dallas on Sunday night.
Questionable in NFL terminology is a 50-50 chance to play.
Beckham has not practiced since spraining his left ankle on Aug. 21 in a preseason game against Cleveland.
Ex-Giants kicker Brown banned for 6 games
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. » Former New York Giants kicker Josh Brown has been suspended for a second time by the NFL for his repeated abuse of his former wife while they were married.
The league Friday suspended the 38-year-old free agent for six more games after taking a long second look at documents released by authorities in the state of Washington from their investigation into his domestic abuse arrest in 2015.
Chiefs’ Berry out for season
KANSAS CITY, MO. » One of the biggest season-opening wins in Chiefs history came at the expense of their All-Pro safety.
Eric Berry ruptured his left Achilles tendon in the fourth quarter of Thursday night’s 42-27 victory over the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, not only ending his season but leaving the Chiefs without one of the most visible and vocal leaders on their defense.
“You’re not going to replace Eric Berry with another Eric Berry. That’s not what happens,” said Chiefs coach Andy Reid.