NFL suspends Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott amid domestic violence allegations

Ezekiel Elliott Domestic Violence Suspension — (Image Credit: Ezekiel Elliott / Facebook)

Although not charged with any criminal activity, Dallas Cowboys’ running back Ezekiel Elliott has been suspended for six games without pay due to domestic violence allegations that he beat up his girlfriend on several occasions between July 17 and July 21, 2016. Following a year-long investigation, the NFL concluded that those allegations have merit and that the 22-year-old Elliott’s actions violated the league’s personal conduct policy, according to an August 11 report from The New York Times. Elliott’s former girlfriend, Tiffany Thompson, 20, accused the running back of assaulting her five times in Columbus, Ohio, during that week-long stretch last July. Prosecutors that looked into those assault allegations said they didn’t arrest or charge Elliot after concluding that “Thompson’s statements conflicted with those made by Elliott and witnesses.”

In pursuing their discipline of Elliott, the NFL also cited an incident that occurred during a St. Patrick’s Day parade in March “when Elliott pulled down a woman’s shirt and exposed her breast, as reflecting ‘a lack of respect for women’ and suggesting a ‘pattern of poor judgment and behavior,’” according to the Times’ report. Although Elliott has his supporters in the NFL who say that the running back is not guilty of those domestic violence allegations, The Times quoted a section of the letter from the NFL governing body which stated that those reviewing the allegations 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.” TMZ shared some of the specifics regarding at least three of the alleged assaults against Elliot’s ex-girlfriend:

INCIDENT #1

On July 17, the NFL says Elliott attacked Thompson at the Canvasback Lane apartments in Columbus, Ohio.

“You used physical force that caused injuries to Ms. Thompson’s arms, neck and shoulders.”

INCIDENT #2

On July 19, the NFL says there was another altercation at the Canvasback Lane apartments.

“You used physical force that caused injuries to Ms. Thompson’s face, arms, wrists and hands.”

INCIDENT #3

On July 21, the NFL says there was a 3rd incident at the Canvasback Lane apartments.

“You used physical force that caused injuries to Ms. Thompson’s face, neck, arms knee and hips.” ~ TMZ

On August 13, two days before Elliott’s deadline to file an appeal regarding his suspension, The Bleacher Report shared that Elliott would indeed be filing an appeal. Elliott is expected to file that appeal on Tuesday, August 15. If Elliott decides not to appeal his six-game suspension, that suspension will begin on September 2. After learning of his six-game suspension, Elliott tweeted: