GOODELL AWARE OF DISSENT AS ELLIOTT BARRED

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was aware that one of his lead investigators believed Ezekiel Elliott shouldn’t be disciplined before the Dallas running back was suspended for six games in a domestic violence case, league spokesman Brian McCarthy said Friday.

McCarthy disputed a key claim in a lawsuit filed by the players’ union on behalf of Elliott seeking to vacate an upcoming ruling on an appeal. McCarthy says Goodell knew of investigator Kia Roberts’ contention that Elliott’s accuser wasn’t credible before deciding to suspend Elliott.

“That Kia Roberts’ information was not provided to others, that’s categorically false,” McCarthy said. “Her views were represented. The commissioner was aware of her views, aware of many other people’s views.”

Elliott, the NFL’s 2016 rushing leader as a rookie, was suspended after the league concluded he used physical force last summer against Tiffany Thompson, his girlfriend at the time.

Arbitrator Harold Henderson, appointed by Goodell, is expected to rule on Elliott’s appeal soon. Attorneys for the 22-yearold and the players’ union said in a request for a temporary restraining order filed Friday that they believe Henderson will reject the appeal.

If Henderson affirms any part of the suspension, Elliott will need U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant to grant the restraining order to be eligible for the opener Sept. 10 against the New York Giants. The first hearing is set for Tuesday in Sherman, Texas, about 65 miles north of Dallas.

Prosecutors in Columbus, Ohio, where Elliott starred for Ohio State, cited conflicting evident in not pursuing the case, but the NFL investigated for more than a year.