LDN - Sports

Elliott files emergency motion, Jones criticizes Goodell

[November 01, 2017] (The Sports Xchange) - Another day, another move in the Ezekiel Elliott case as Tuesday saw the NFL Players Association file an emergency motion for an injunction appeal on behalf of the Dallas Cowboys running back.

The filing comes one day after Judge Katherine Polk Failla denied the request for a preliminary injunction in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Failla stayed her ruling for 24 hours to give Elliott's side a chance to appeal.

Failla's decision reinstated Elliott's six-game suspension from the NFL due to domestic violence allegations.

Tuesday's motion from the NFLPA requests for a delay of the ruling so Elliott can appeal to the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. It also asked for a ruling by 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said Elliott is paying for the mistakes made by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on the heels of Ray Rice's domestic violence situation in 2014.

"Zeke is a victim of an overcorrection," Jones said on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas.

Jones' comments come one day after Elliott lost his bid for a preliminary injunction that would have stayed the NFL's six-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy. Elliott will not be on the field again until Dec. 17 against the Oakland Raiders, pending a successful appeal.

"(Goodell's) swing of judgment has been unbelievable from the Ray Rice thing (from) one or two games all the way up to a six-game suspension when you truly have got a debate," Jones said. "Even this judge said it shows that very reasonably people could possibly come down on both sides of this. Well, under our legal system it has to be stronger than that for someone to have done it. Now, we all know we were not there to see it, but I do have every point of contention on both sides and in our system in this country, Zeke would not have any issue here as to his work place.

"With the knowledge that I have, the circumstances aren't treating him fair. Two years ago this wouldn't be an issue, before Ray Rice."

Rice initially was banned two games but was later suspended indefinitely when a video of the incident emerged. Jones contends the league's change in stance when it came to Elliott was to appeal to the public.

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Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at AT&T Stadium, Oct 8, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

"They swung from where this, two years ago by the same collective bargaining agreement, in my mind, (Elliott) would be playing," Jones said. "Now he goes to where he's got the extreme penalty of six. Now there's a bigger penalty. You can be suspended. But still this is the max ... Anybody that has really looked at the facts of the case, has really looked at it, knows there was divisive and difference of opinion within the league itself."

Failla said Elliott and his NFL Players Association legal team failed to demonstrate a substantial question warranting the extraordinary remedy of injunctive relief, forcing him to begin his six-game suspension immediately.

Moreover, the court ruled that the NFL was fair in its investigation and arbitration process per the terms of the collective bargaining agreement and the league's personal conduct policy.

Elliott, who currently ranks third in the league in rushing with 690 yards, had a career-high 33 carries for 150 yards in Sunday's 33-19 victory against the Washington Redskins. It was his third straight 100-yard game and third career game over 150 yards dating back to last season.

The Cowboys (4-3) will go with Alfred Morris, Rod Smith and Darren McFadden in place of the suspended Elliott.

(Filed by Steve Keating in Toronto.)

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