Dallas Cowboys star, Ezekiel Elliott, will be suspended, without pay, for six games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. He has 3 days to appeal the decision before the suspension will take effect. He will forfeit about $559,000 in salary and a possible $1.44 million in signing bonus repayment, according to Sportrac. Elliott did not immediately comment.
The NFL’s decision comes after an extensive investigation into a domestic violence complaint that was brought against him in 2016 by a woman who said that she was injured after an altercation with Elliott, claiming that the football player pushed her against the wall during an argument in Florida. According to the police report, obtained by USA TODAY, he was not arrested and she did not seek medical treatment for her injury. However, just five months later THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS reported that the woman also claimed that Elliott assaulted her in Ohio, and abused her over several days. She told police that she was his girlfriend, but he denied having a relationship with her. Prosecutors decided not to press charges. The NFL said Friday that there were more than a dozen witnesses interviewed. Also stating that “The league also consulted with medical experts. League investigators examined all available evidence, including photographic and digital evidence, thousands of texts messages and other records of electronic communications.”
Also, in March, a video posted online showed Elliott pulling down a woman’s top and exposing one of her breasts at a ST. Patricks Day parade, which created some backlash by Domestic Awareness groups who were upset about the league’s lack of public comment about the allegations, considering they pledged to act forcefully in cases of sexual or physical abuse. Elliott himself complained earlier in the year that he felt the NFL investigators were dragging their feet.
His suspension is set to start on September 2nd, he will still be allowed to participate in preseason practice and games. He will not be back on the roster until the end of his suspension on October 23rd.
