FRISCO, Texas _ It's hard to reconcile for some. Ezekiel Elliott is the exuberant running back who leaps defenders and leads the Cowboys to victories. But according to the NFL, he also deserves a six-game suspension for using physical force against former girlfriend Tiffany Thompson in three separate incidents.
Elliott is fighting the punishment with an appeal, which will be heard Tuesday in New York.
Elliott has issued a statement that he strongly disagrees with Commissioner Roger Goodell's decision. He's also challenging it because of the gravity of being labeled a domestic abuser by the league, which can have far-reaching implications. Part of the fallout, a source said, is that Elliott has already lost millions of dollars in endorsement opportunities. The NFL's investigation started last summer before he ever took a carry in a game.
Authorities in Columbus, Ohio, did not pursue charges against Elliott, citing inconsistent information. The NFL's personal conduct policy allows for a lower threshold of proof.
The past week has been unexpectedly quiet leading into the appeal hearing. The days after the announcement of the suspension on Aug. 11 featured public sparring between the NFL and NFL Players Association. The league accused its union of leaking information that put Thompson and her motives and credibility in a bad light. The NFLPA denied the charges and pointed out the league's inadequate history resolving domestic violence cases.
What shouldn't be lost in the high-profile fight, says Tonya Lovelace, a domestic violence expert who served as one of four independent advisers to Goodell in Elliott's case, is what she views as the crux of the matter. Domestic violence is never OK, and it is everybody's business if someone is being battered. She said accused abusers should be held accountable and get the help they need.
The NFL mandates Elliott undergo a clinical evaluation as part of his suspension, and then counseling or treatment if recommended.
