Elliott will have to start suspension
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott’s half-season run from his six-game suspension ended Thursday when a federal appeals court in New York refused to let him play while it considered his appeal.
Elliott sat directly in front of a threejudge panel that considered his request to be allowed to play, but the court issued an order in less than an hour disqualifying him from Sunday’s game at Atlanta.
The suspension was ordered in August as discipline after the league investigated allegations he used force against his girlfriend in the summer of 2016. Elliott vehemently denied the allegations as recently as last week, saying he was not an abuser.
By the time the ruling came Thursday, he had already left the courthouse without speaking to reporters, though he shook the hand of a person who shouted that he was a “huge fan” as Elliott raced down steps to a sport utility vehicle.
Although the league won the battle, the appeals judges took a few shots at the NFL for its handling of the suspension of a 22year-old athlete who will be sidelined while he’s second in the league with 783 yards rushing and tied for the league lead with seven rushing touchdowns.
Circuit Judge Dennis Jacobs told Paul Clement, the NFL’s lawyer, that he found it odd that the issue was “such a frantic emergency that it can’t wait another couple months.”
Goodell’s extension may come soon: The NFL expects a five-year contract extension with Commissioner Roger Goodell to be finalized soon, despite a threatened lawsuit by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart said that “our expectation is this will be wrapped up soon, but we can’t project an actual date.”
The extension would carry through 2024. Goodell became commissioner in 2006.
Lockhart added that the league is aware of Jones’ potential lawsuit, which apparently has been sparked by Elliott’s suspension.
As for reports that Jones and other owners might be balking at the structure and compensation in the new contract, Lockhart noted: “I am saying the reporting about potential holdouts around particular issues has not been accurate. I don’t know where it is coming from?”
All 32 owners voted in May to extend Goodell’s contract and authorized the compensation committee to work out the details.
Lang is in concussion protocol: Detroit coach Jim Caldwell said guard T.J. Lang is going through the concussion protocol.
Lang, who played in Monday’s win at Green Bay, was listed on Wednesday’s injury report with an undisclosed illness.
Caldwell — who rarely likes to discuss the specifics of injuries — said that Lang was having no issues until the start of practice Wednesday.
Lang has started seven games this season and missed one with back issues.