Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott officially appealed his six-game suspension yesterday afternoon, which now leaves the NFL ten business days to schedule a hearing.
Elliott's appeal will reportedly focus on the testimony given by Tiffany Thompson, his ex-girlfriend, who has accused him of domestic violence. Reports have recently surfaced that Thompson told Zeke, “You are a black male athlete. I’m a white girl. They are not going to believe you.”
The NFL apparently believes the NFLPA is responsible for such reports, and is what they consider victim-blaming in the case of the Cowboys' running back.
Today, Joe Lockhart, the NFL's executive vice president of communications released a statement regarding the National Football League Player Association and reports of them "spreading derogatory information to the media" about Tiffany Thompson, the victim in Elliott's case.
The statement reads,
"Over the past few days we've received multiple reports of the NFLPA spreading derogatory information to the media about the victim in Ezekiel Elliott's discipline case.
It's a common tactic to attempt to prove the innocence of the accused by discrediting the victim - in this case Ms. Thompson - when coming forward to report such abuse. Common or not, these tactics are shameful. Efforts to shame and blame victims are often what prevent people from coming forward to report violence and/or seek help in the first place."
