Ezekiel Elliot's Actions And The Law: What Happened?

Ezekiel Elliott, the star running back for the Dallas Cowboys, has been involved in several off-field incidents that have brought his conduct under scrutiny. While he has never been arrested or charged with a crime, his name has appeared in multiple police reports for investigations into assault, battery, domestic violence, and disorderly conduct. The most notable incident involves allegations of domestic violence by his ex-girlfriend, Tiffany Thompson, which resulted in a six-game suspension by the NFL. Elliott has denied the allegations, and the Columbus City Attorney's Office declined to press charges due to conflicting evidence. However, the NFL held the right to punish players under its personal conduct policy, leading to the suspension. This incident and other off-field matters have raised questions about Elliott's discipline and potential legal consequences.

Ezekiel Elliott's suspension for domestic violence

The Allegations

In July 2016, Ezekiel Elliott, a running back for the Dallas Cowboys, was accused of domestic violence by a woman who said she was his girlfriend. She alleged that Elliott abused her for five days in July surrounding his 21st birthday and that he had abused her another time prior to the NFL draft in 2016. The woman, Tiffany Thompson, called the police on Elliott in February 2016, claiming that he pushed her against a wall, hurting her shoulder. In July 2016, she reported five instances of violence to the police, stating that Elliott had abused her from early July 17 to July 22.

The Investigation

The NFL conducted an extensive investigation into the allegations, interviewing more than a dozen witnesses, including Elliott and Thompson, and consulting medical experts. They examined photographic and digital evidence, thousands of text messages, and other records of electronic communications. The investigation lasted throughout the offseason, even after Elliott met with league officials in July.

The Outcome

The Columbus City Attorney's Office declined to press charges against Elliott due to "conflicting and inconsistent information." However, the NFL has a lower burden of proof and can find players in violation of its personal conduct policy even without an arrest or conviction. As a result, the NFL suspended Elliott for six games without pay. The suspension was upheld by Harold Henderson, and Elliott eventually dropped his appeal, serving the full six-game suspension.

Elliott's appeal and a potential lawsuit

In August 2017, Ezekiel Elliott appealed his six-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal-conduct policy. The suspension was handed down by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell following a year-long investigation into Elliott's alleged involvement in a domestic violence incident in July 2016. The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) filed an appeal on Elliott's behalf, and he was in New York for his appeals hearing.

The hearing was expected to last several days, and the NFL had 10 business days to schedule it. If the suspension was not changed, Elliott and the NFLPA could file a claim in court, accusing the league of overstepping its authority. This could result in a protracted legal battle similar to the one between the NFL and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

While Elliott was never arrested or charged with a crime, the NFL has the right to punish players even without charges due to its personal conduct policy. The league's decision to suspend Elliott was based on "substantial and persuasive evidence" that he engaged in physical violence on multiple occasions.

Elliott's appeal hearing was led by Harold Henderson, a designated arbitrator chosen by Goodell. Henderson has a history of hearing appeals for the NFL, including cases involving former Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and former Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy. In the Hardy case, the NFLPA objected to Henderson's appointment due to his lack of neutrality or independence. Despite this, Henderson reduced Hardy's suspension from 10 games to four.

The outcome of Elliott's appeal was not certain, and his legal options appeared tenuous. However, it was speculated that a reduction in the six-game suspension was the best-case scenario. Elliott could also argue "irreparable harm" if denied the chance to play in the regular season, as there would be no way to make up for the missed games.

In conclusion, Ezekiel Elliott's appeal and potential lawsuit against the NFL hinged on his ability to demonstrate that the league had overstepped its authority or that he did not engage in the alleged domestic violence incidents. The outcome of his appeal and any subsequent legal action remained to be seen, but the process highlighted the complex nature of disciplinary procedures in professional sports leagues.

The NFL's right to punish players without charges

The NFL has the right to punish players without charges due to its personal conduct policy. This policy was introduced by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in 2007 to help control on and off-field behavior by its players and preserve the league's public image. The NFL conducts separate investigations for drug and alcohol abuse, performance enhancement, and domestic violence.

The NFL's personal conduct policy states that the league will:

> "honor the sport and respect the game, [and] respect [...] teammates, opponents, coaches, officials, and fans."

The rules are intended to protect players from unnecessary risk, promote player safety, and emphasize sportsmanship and respect.

The NFL's ability to punish players without charges has been a topic of debate among players and the media. Some argue that the league holds its players to a higher standard than that of the law, and that the commissioner, who is run by the owners, has too much power in handing down punishments. Others argue that players know the expectations and scrutiny they will face when playing in the NFL and that the league is simply protecting its image and finances.

In the case of Ezekiel Elliott, the NFL suspended him for six games following a year-long investigation into allegations of domestic violence by his ex-girlfriend. Despite never being charged, the NFL found substantial and persuasive evidence of Elliott's involvement in physical violence on multiple occasions. Elliott denied the allegations, and his suspension was later blocked through a court order.

Elliott's off-field behaviour and decision-making

Ezekiel Elliott has been in the spotlight ever since he became a starter at Ohio State in 2014. The limelight intensified when the Dallas Cowboys drafted him fourth overall two years later, and it grew even brighter as he became the NFL's leading rusher as a rookie. Elliott's off-the-field antics have earned him negative headlines, including at least four police reports since June 2014, with investigations for assault, battery, domestic violence and disorderly conduct.

Elliott has never been arrested or charged with a crime, but his name has been linked to several physical altercations, including with his ex-girlfriend, Tiffany Thompson, on multiple occasions in three states. He has repeatedly denied the allegations, and prosecutors in Columbus declined to press charges due to conflicting and inconsistent evidence.

Elliott has also been involved in several incidents that didn't result in police reports but reflected poorly on his decision-making. These include multiple car accidents, a speeding ticket, visiting a legal marijuana dispensary, and exposing a woman's breast during a St. Patrick's Day celebration.

In addition, Elliott has faced accusations of drug use, with his ex-girlfriend claiming he was a "heavy" marijuana user and had used cocaine. Elliott has also been questioned about his productivity and discipline, including delays in team meetings and absences.

Despite these off-field issues, Elliott has maintained a good relationship with his teammates and coaches, and he has expressed a desire to improve his public image.

The NFL's investigation and evidence

The NFL's investigation into Ezekiel Elliott's behaviour resulted in a six-game suspension for the Dallas Cowboys running back. The league's decision was based on "substantial and persuasive evidence" that Elliott was involved in physical violence on multiple occasions. This evidence included photographic evidence of three instances of physical force, resulting in injuries to the victim's face, arms, wrist, hands, neck, shoulders, and hips. The NFL's letter to Elliott also stated that there was no evidence to suggest that anyone else could have caused these injuries.

Elliott's suspension was based on the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy, which allows the league to punish players even without criminal charges being filed. The policy states that the Commissioner can punish a player who engages in "conduct detrimental to the integrity of, or public confidence in, the game of professional football." This policy has been the subject of scrutiny in recent years, particularly following the NFL's controversial disciplining of Tom Brady and Adrian Peterson.

Elliott's former girlfriend, Tiffany Thompson, made the allegations of domestic violence, claiming that Elliott committed multiple acts of violence against her during the week of July 16, 2016. She also made accusations of abuse prior to Elliott becoming an NFL player. Thompson provided photographic evidence of her injuries, which included bruises.

Elliott has repeatedly denied the allegations, and no criminal charges were filed due to conflicting and inconsistent evidence. However, the NFL's investigation and evidence led them to conclude that Elliott had engaged in physical violence and violated the league's Personal Conduct Policy, resulting in his six-game suspension.

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