Goodell aware of dissent before suspending Elliott
The NFL says Roger Goodell was aware of an investigator’s view that Ezekiel Elliott shouldn’t be disciplined before the Dallas running back was suspended in a domestic violence case.
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-year-old 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.
According to the letter Elliott received informing him of the suspension three weeks ago, the NFL believed he used “physical force” three times in a span of five days in an apartment in July 2016, resulting in injuries to Thompson’s face, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, wrists, hips and knees.
Elliott denied Thompson’s allegations under oath in an appeal hearing that spanned three days. The hearing ended Thursday, about 12 hours before the lawsuit was filed.
The lawsuit says the NFL’s appeals process is “fundamentally unfair” because Henderson denied a request by Elliott’s representatives to have Thompson testify.
The suit accuses NFL special counsel Lisa Friel of withholding information from Goodell and four experts who advised the commissioner before his ruling, and says Henderson erred in not compelling Goodell to testify at the appeal.
Browns cut Osweiler
Brock Osweiler’s days with the Browns were numbered when the quarterback arrived in a trade. They’re now over. Osweiler is being released by Cleveland, which will have to pay his $16 million guaranteed contract not to have him on their roster, a person familiar with the team’s moves told The Associated Press on Friday.
Osweiler will be officially cut on Saturday along with veteran guard John Greco, kicker Cody Parkey and defensive lineman Xavier Cooper when the team trims its roster to 53 on Saturday, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team is still finalizing its roster decisions.
Panthers waive former OU cornerback
The Panthers may need to add depth at cornerback after waiving former fifth-round draft pick Zack Sanchez and placing veteran Teddy Williams on injured reserve Friday.
The former Sooner Sanchez was having a solid preseason before injuring his groin Thursday night against the Steelers.
Carolina has little depth behind starters James Bradberry and Daryl Worley and veteran nickel back Captain Munnerlyn. That could open the door for undrafted rookie Cole Luke to make the team. Luke had 10 tackles against Pittsburgh.