OXNARD, Calif. _ Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott wasn't going to talk about domestic abuse allegations on Sunday.
Elliott met with reporters for the first time since a former girlfriend accused him of hitting her earlier this month, and was asked three times about the allegations.
All three times, Elliott said something along the lines of: "I'm not going to talk about anything regarding legal matters right now, but I'd love to talk about football."
Elliott, selected No. 4 overall in this year's draft by the Cowboys, didn't seem overly concerned about the allegations. He denied any wrongdoing to Columbus, Ohio police, and police did not charge or arrest him with a crime.
The case has been handed to the prosecutor's office, and the NFL is also investigating the matter.
Executive vice president Stephen Jones said Friday that the team had no timeline as to when this issue might be resolved. Jones said he hoped it would be "sooner than later."
Elliott rushed for more than 1,800 yards in each of his last two seasons at Ohio State, and is expected to play a significant role in the Cowboys' offense this season.
He is ready to put the pads on for the first time Monday, and didn't let this legal cloud dampen his spirit. Elliott smiled often during his more than six-minute interview session with reporters, and seemed at ease despite the current investigations.
"I'm excited to get back out here playing ball," Elliott said. "I'm excited for tomorrow to get out here and put the pads on and finally see what everything is about. I'm just looking forward to tomorrow, ready to get better."
