The Dallas Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott has been suspended for six games by the NFL.
On Friday, the league suspended Elliott for six regular season games for violating the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy.
Earlier this week, Hall of Fame wide receiver and Fox Sports on-air personality, Chris Carter, said a suspension is coming. He also said the NFL’s 2016-2017 leading rusher’s punishment will be accompanied by evidence of domestic violence. Carter implied there is a possibility that proof will be brought to light showing Elliott destroyed evidence in connection with the case.
In addition to accusations Elliott was involved in five incidents of domestic violence over six days in July 2016, he was also caught on camera pulling a woman’s top down during a St. Patrick’s Day Parade in March. He has been accused of breaking a DJ’s nose at a Dallas nightclub, as well.
The league notified Elliott of the suspension Friday morning.
The NFL says Elliott’s suspension stems from his actions between July 17 and July 21, 2016 (domestic abuse allegations), and separately on March 11, 2017 (St. Patrick’s Day parade).
The NFL says even though no criminal charges were brought in either instance, league investigators interviewed more than a dozen witnesses, including the woman who made the abuse allegations, and examined all evidence, including photographic and digital evidence, thousands of text messages and other electronic communications.
They also interviewed the woman who had her top pulled down by Elliott.
The league provided Elliott’s attorneys with copies of their investigative reports on June 7, 2017.
The NFL says based on the entire record provided by Elliott’s counsel and the league’s investigators, the NFL says they came to the conclusion that Elliott “did use physical force against a woman resulting in her injury.”
In regards to the St. Patrick’s Day parade incident, the NFL says Eliott’s behavior was “inappropriate and disturbing.” They also say it reflected a “lack of respect for women.”
“When viewed together with the July incidents, it suggests a pattern of poor judgment and behavior for which effective intervention is necessary for your personal and professional welfare,” the NFL wrote in the suspension documents.
The letter sent to Elliott by the NFL can be read here.
Elliott has three business-days to appeal the suspension.
With the star RB’s suspension, this marks 16th suspension for “America’s Team” since 2014.
The MVP candidate finished his 2016-2017 inaugural NFL campaign with 1,631 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. He was also first-team All-Pro as a rookie.
The Cowboys take on the Los Angeles Rams in a preseason matchup on Saturday.
Their regular season begins Sunday, September 10, as Dallas faces the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The game starts at 7:30 p.m., on KETK.
