Suspended Elliott to play in opener
The NFL’S six-game suspension of Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was upheld Tuesday by a league-appointed arbitrator.
But Elliott remained eligible to play in the team’s season-opening game this weekend as the focus of the case shifted to the courtroom and another legal showdown over a disciplinary measure already underway between the league and the players’ union.
Attorneys for the league said in federal court in Texas that Elliott will be eligible to play against the New York Giants in Sunday night’s nationally televised opener in Arlington, Texas. The court is set to rule by Friday on a request by the NFL Players Association for a temporary restraining order that would keep the suspension on hold beyond this weekend. So, as things stand, Elliott’s six-game suspension would begin in Week 2, pending the court’s ruling.
Harold Henderson, the former labor-relations executive for the league who was assigned by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to hear and resolve Elliott’s appeal, rejected it and reaffirmed the suspension imposed by Goodell under the sport’s personal conduct policy.
“We received Arbitrator Harold Henderson’s decision to uphold Mr. Elliott’s suspension of six games,” said a written statement released by Elliott’s attorneys Tuesday night. “We are extremely disappointed with Mr. Henderson’s inability to navigate through league politics, and follow the evidence and, most importantly, his [conscience]. “
The league declined further comment Tuesday night, saying through a spokesman that Henderson’s ruling spoke for itself. The NFLPA did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.
If the suspension stands, Elliott would play the opener and then miss games against the Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins. He would be eligible to return for a home game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 5.
Two people familiar with the NFL’S inner workings had said earlier Tuesday that the league did not regard 4 p.m. Tuesday as the deadline by which Elliott’s appeal had to be resolved for his suspension to take effect this week. That is the generally followed practice in such disciplinary matters, but it is not a formal rule.
The six-game suspension is the baseline penalty for a first offense of domestic violence under the terms of the revised personal conduct policy enacted by the league and the owners of the teams in December 2014.
The NFLPA and Elliott’s legal representatives argued in his appeal that the league ignored evidence raising doubts about the credibility of Elliott’s accuser and conducted a flawed investigation. But Henderson sided with Goodell and the league.