I know, that’s a nice click-baity headline so I’ll go ahead and answer it. No, Ezekiel Elliott’s six-game suspension will not hold up when he appeals the punishment handed down by the NFL. The only real question is if any of the NFL’s suspension will hold up at all in court. I’m not sure it will.
First off, let’s start with the facts as we know them. The NFL informed Elliott Friday that he would be suspended for the first six games of the 2017 NFL season for violating the league’s domestic violence policy.
According to a letter sent to Elliott by the league, they believe he committed violent actions against Tiffany Thompson, a former girlfriend. The NFL came to this conclusion, they say, by looking at photos and interviewing Thompson. Elliott was also interviewed and obviously denied injuring his former girlfriend.
Ezekiel Elliott: "I am both surprised and disappointed by the NFL's decision, and I strongly disagree with the League's findings." #FreeZeke pic.twitter.com/AaHfnmkVvj
— ✭Cowboys News✭ (@DemBoyz_News) August 12, 2017
Here’s the problem with the NFL’s case and why, once again, Roger Goodell is a complete moron. There’s a reason why the Columbus police did not pursue any criminal case against Elliott over this. It’s because it did not happen.
In the NFL’s letter to Elliott, the mention that Thompson’s injuries (supposedly from an altercation with Elliott) were observed “later that same day” by her friend Ayrin Mason. Funny thing about Ms. Mason, she has stated under oath in an affidavit that Thompson got her injuries at a bar fight, that Elliott did not tough Thompson at all, and that Thompson asked her to lie and claim she saw Elliott assault her. She did not lie and told the police the truth. In addition to her sworn affidavit, she included copies of the texts Thompson sent her asking her to lie to the cops.
https://twitter.com/AllbrightNFL/status/896144787924844544
In the documents the police released, it contains texts from Elliott, Thompson and Mason, all backing up the claim that Thompson just made the whole thing up along with numerous witness statements all backing up Mason’s account of the events. There are also numerous affidavits from other people who completely discount Thompson’s claims of abuse and the days they occurred. One, from Chiedu Bosah, actually includes a cell phone picture of him, Thompson and Elliott that he took later on one of the days Thompson claims to have been abused showing no marks on her body.
The most damning affidavit comes from Kenny Alvarado, the security manager at the club (the Socini Room) that Thompson allegedly got into a fight with another girl and would claim the injuries came from Elliott. He states, under oath, that he witnessed the fight and recognized Thompson but not the other girl and, not only that, two police officers named Brian Keefe and Kerry Cibulskas also were witnesses.
Ezekiel Elliott rep confirms action will be taken against #NFL, says the league ‘cherry picked’ it’s own facts »https://t.co/VF1OMMrE28 pic.twitter.com/nbyFbfdAKd
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) August 11, 2017
Oh, and in case you were wondering, Keefe and Cibulskas have sworn affidavits in that package too saying they witnessed Thompson’s fight.
In no uncertain terms, Ezekiel Elliott is innocent and all these accusations are complete bullshit and the NFL should not only be forced to abdicate his suspension but publicly apologize for damaging Elliott’s reputation.
Because that’s what Thompson allegedly wanted all along.
According to the Dallas Star-Telegram, Elliott is going to toss into evidence all the recorded (via texts and witnesses) that Thompson threatened to “ruin his career.” The worst of which, if he can prove it, is her telling him on the day she lied about him assaulting her in her car that “You are a black male athlete. I’m a white girl. They are not going to believe you.”
Ezekiel Elliott's Accuser Told Him You're Black, I'm White Girl No One Will Believe You and Other Threats She Made https://t.co/7Zlfz0EHyO pic.twitter.com/m0BK8XKfJu
— Robert Littal BSO (@BSO) August 14, 2017
Dammit if she wasn’t right about that. At least when it comes to Roger Goodell, the cowardly bastard. The son of a bitch never once attended any of the meetings with Elliott or Thompson during the entire process. It’s a farce.
The facts of the case are why Elliott was shocked it was taking the NFL so long to announce their “findings.” The facts are why Jerry Jones was sure Elliott would not get hit with any punishments for “domestic violence,” but instead maybe have to sit a game for pulling a woman’s shirt down at a St. Patrick’s Day parade. He’s guilty of that, after all.
But of the most serious charges of domestic violence, Elliott couldn’t be more innocent. Not only should he be completely off the hook, he should sue Goodell, the NFL and Thompson for any and all damage to his reputation. This whole process has been an outrage.
Other NFL News
The Washington Redskins got bad news this weekend when they lost linebacker Trent Murphy for the season with a torn ACL. Last season Murphy played in all 16 games as a situational pass rusher and recorded 48 tackles, nine sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and a pass defense. Murphy was a second round pick out of Stanford in 2014. On the bright side, Murphy’s four-game PED suspension is irrelevant now.
Miami Dolphins linebacker Raekwon McMillian tore his ACL in the the team’s opening preseason game and will miss 2017. McMillian was a second round draft pick last April out of Ohio State. Last year with the Buckeyes, McMillian had 102 tackles, seven for a loss, two sacks, five passes defended and two forced fumbles.
Minnesota Vikings back up running back Bishop Sanky tore an ACL Thursday in the team’s preseason game against the Buffalo Bills. He too will miss the entire season. Sankey was a second round pick of the Tennessee Titans back in 2014 and didn’t play a snap last season on the Kansas City Chiefs roster. His best season was his rookie year in which he carried the ball 152 times for 569 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 3.7 yards per carry. He caught 18 passes for 133 yards.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was diagnosed with a concusion after the team’s preseason game against the New York Giants Friday. The Steelers picked Smith-Schuster in the second round of April’s NFL Draft out of USC. Last year with the Trojans, Smith-Schuster caught 70 passes for 914 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have completely cut ties with offensive tackle Brandon Albert, who recently retired, then decided to un-retire in the same week. The Jags acquired Albert in a trade with the Miami Dolphins this off-season.
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