Elliott decides to sit out suspension
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is ending his legal fight with five games remaining on a sixgame suspension over alleged domestic violence.
Elliott’s agents said Wednesday the decision by the reigning NFL rushing champion “is in no way an admission of wrongdoing.” Elliott had a hearing set in a federal appeals court on Dec. 1, four games into the suspension.
Wednesday was the 96th day since Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the suspension. Elliott served the first game in Dallas’ 27-7 loss to Atlanta last weekend. By accepting the six-game ban, Elliott is eligible to return for the final two games of the regular season: Dec. 24 vs. Seattle and Dec. 31 at Philadelphia.
The defending NFC East champion Cowboys (5-4) are three games behind the division-leading Eagles (81), who visit Sunday night. A year after being the top seed in the NFC at 13-3, Dallas faces a difficult task staying in playoff contention until Elliott returns.
Bills make QB change
Rather than continue watching a pedestrian offense muddle through a third consecutive game, Bills coach Sean McDermott sent his team a jolt by making an abrupt change at quarterback.
Tyrod Taylor was benched and rookie fifth-round pick Nathan Peterman will make his first career start Sunday, when Buffalo plays at the Chargers.
McDermott acknowledged taking a “calculated risk” in making the switch at a time when the Bills have a winning record. They sit sixth in the AFC standings, and control their own destiny in a bid to end a 17-season playoff drought the longest active streak in North America’s four major professional sports.
“This is about becoming better as a football team,” he said. “As a decision maker, you have to be able to or willing to take calculated risks to get to where we’re trying to go. And I’m comfortable doing that.”
Keenum a keeper
Case Keenum will start again at quarterback this week for the Minnesota Vikings. This time he’ll face his former team, the Rams.
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer announced that Keenum will keep his place running an offense that produced a season-high 38 points in the previous game at Washington.
With Teddy Bridgewater back on the active roster, he’s widely expected to take over sooner than later. The Vikings have won five straight games with some strong performances by Keenum.
Keenum has started five and finished six of the team’s seven victories this season. Bridgewater has not played in a non-preseason game in more than 22 months.
Browns bashing
Jacksonville safety Tashaun Gipson chuckled when reminded that he said the Browns will probably go 0-16. His former teammates aren’t amused.
Gipson provided bulletinboard material for Sunday’s game in a radio interview by ripping Cleveland’s front office, predicting the Jaguars would score 40 points and record a shutout, and forecasting a winless season for the Browns.
A one-time Pro Bowler in Cleveland, Gipson didn’t back off from his harsh comments — with one exception.
“I probably got a bit out of hand with 0-16 team,” he said Wednesday. “But I definitely do stand by my comments when I say I feel like Sunday we plan on going 1-0.”