NFLPA sues on behalf of Elliott
The NFL players union is suing the league on behalf of the Dallas Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott, seeking to vacate the upcoming ruling of an arbitrator over the running back’s six-game suspension in a domestic violence case.
The lawsuit was filed late Thursday in federal court in Texas. It accuses the NFL’s appeal process of being “fundamentally unfair” because arbitrator Harold Henderson denied attempts by Elliott’s attorneys to have his exgirlfriend testify at a hearing that wrapped up earlier in the day.
Henderson is supposed to rule on the NFL’s decision to suspend Elliott “as soon as practicable,” according to the labor agreement. But the lawsuit seeks to preempt Henderson’s ruling.
Elliott, the league’s rushing leader as a rookie in 2016, was suspended after the NFL concluded he used physical force last summer in Ohio against Tiffany Thompson, his girlfriend at the time. Prosecutors didn’t pursue the case, citing conflicting evidence. Elliott has denied the allegations.
Deal for Hopkins
The Houston Texans and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins agreed to a fiveyear, $81-million contract extension, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been announced by the team. The deal, which includes $49 million guaranteed, comes as the star receiver was entering the last year of his contract.
Hopkins was the 27th overall pick in the 2013 draft. He has piled up 4,487 yards receiving in his first four seasons.
Scare for Jets
Josh McCown and New York’s first-team offense got the start — and a big scare — in the preseason finale as the Jets held on to beat the Philadelphia Eagles 16-10 in East Rutherford, N.J.
The 38-year-old McCown hadn’t played since the opening series of the preseason against Tennessee as the Jets gave youngsters Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty extended looks.
Coach Todd Bowles said Monday that McCown would be the Week 1 starter at Buffalo, and had most of his starting offense on the field for the first two possessions against the Eagles. It almost ended in disaster.
McCown took a shot to the chest from Eagles linebacker Joe Walker after completing a 20-yard pass to Austin Seferian-Jenkins with 7:13 left in the opening quarter. The quarterback was down on a knee for a few moments before getting to his feet and jogging off the field toward the sideline and going down to a knee again as trainers attended to him. “Thankfully, it wasn’t anything serious,” McCown said.
Etc.
Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen restructured his contract, which could allow him to make an additional $2 million this season if he reaches certain incentives . ... The Kansas City Chiefs released veteran offensive lineman Jah Reid one day after acquiring former first-round pick Cam Er ving from the Cleveland Browns.