Carter: I’d be ‘shocked’ if Elliott not suspended soon
Ezekiel Elliott’s suspension is coming — according to Cris Carter.
The Hall of Fame wide receiver and FOX Sports personality appeared on FS1’s “Undisputed” on Monday and said he would be “shocked” if the Cowboys running back wasn’t suspended over the next 48 hours — and that he believes “information will come out.”
Commissioner Roger Goodell shot down the report during a special town hall event with Giants seasonticket holders at MetLife Stadium later in the day.
“I don’t think Cris has anything to do with the decision,” the commissioner said. “We haven’t made any decisions yet.’’
Elliott, the NFL’s leading rusher last year as a rookie and a first team All-Pro, was accused of domestic violence against an ex-girlfriend in Columbus, Ohio, in 2016, but he wasn’t arrested or charged with a crime. The Columbus City Attorney’s Office cited “conflicting and inconsistent information,” as the reason for not filing charges at the time.
“For me, in the next 48 hours, I would be shocked if Zeke is not suspended,” said Carter, who believes the suspension will be in the range of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s four-game Deflategate suspension to start last season. “Because based on the information that’s going to come out, it’s going to be fairly easy to determine that something happened to this woman in her four days of being with Zeke. This is just pure assault or domestic violence.”
Before Goodell threw cold water on Carter’s report, Brian McCarthy, the NFL’s vice president of communications, told ESPN the situation was still under review and “any talk that a decision has been or will be made soon is speculation.”
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones repeatedly has said he doesn’t think Elliott, who ran for 1,631 yards on 322 carries and scored 15 touchdowns last season, will be suspended. Jones said that he has reviewed the case and “there is absolutely nothing — not one thing — that had anything to do with domestic violence.” He also has said recently that he believes a decision is coming from the league because Elliott and his representatives have met with the NFL officials in recent weeks.
Despite police not charging him, Elliott can be suspended under the league’s personal conduct policy. And if suspended at all, he would miss the Week 1 game against the Giants, who are expected to be the Cowboys stiffest challenge in the NFC East, in Arlington, Texas on Sept. 10. Of course, Elliott can appeal any suspension which would likely enable him to play in the opener.