NFL Suspends Cowboys' Elliott 6 Games Over Domestic Violence Case
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The Giants' defense likely won't have to worry about facing the NFL's reigning rushing champ in Week 1.
The NFL suspended Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott for six games Friday after a yearlong league investigation of his domestic violence case in Ohio.
The 2016 NFL rushing leader was suspended despite prosecutors in Columbus, Ohio, deciding a year ago not to pursue the case involving Elliott's girlfriend at the time in the same city where Elliott starred for Ohio State.
The league said there was "substantial and persuasive evidence" that Elliott had physical confrontations last summer with his then-girlfriend, Tiffany Thompson. Elliott will be eligible to return to the active roster on Oct. 23. Dallas hosts the Giants on Sept. 10 in the season opener for both teams.
Elliott's representatives announced in a statement Friday he will appeal, adding they are "disappointed with the NFL's decision."
"The NFL's findings are replete with factual inaccuracies and erroneous conclusions and it 'cherry picks' so called evidence to support its conclusion while ignoring other critical evidence," the statement said, in part.
The NFL Players Association said it was reviewing the decision and had been in touch with Elliott's representatives.
The league revised its personal conduct policy in 2014 following sharp criticism of a case involving former Baltimore running back Ray Rice. The policy gave Commissioner Roger Goodell authority to suspend players for at least six games in domestic cases, with or without a conviction.
In a letter to Elliott informing him of the league's decision, NFL special counsel for conduct Todd Jones said advisers brought in by the league "were of the view that there is substantial and persuasive evidence supporting a finding that (Elliott) engaged in physical violence against Ms. Thompson on multiple occasions during the week of July 16, 2016."
The Ohio case was the first in a series of off-field incidents involving Elliott in his first year after the Cowboys made him the fourth overall pick in the 2016 draft. He finished with 1,631 yards rushing in helping the Cowboys to the best record in the NFC at 13-3 before a divisional playoff loss to Green Bay.
Elliott was seen in a legal marijuana shop during the preseason in Seattle last year and was caught on video pulling down a woman's shirt during a St. Patrick's Day parade in Dallas this past spring. He was also involved in a bar fight in Dallas a week before training camp.
The NFL also ordered Elliott to undergo a clinical evaluation to determine whether counseling or treatment are needed.
"You should understand that another violation of this nature may result in your suspension or potential banishment from the NFL," Jones' letter said.
(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
