Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott will appear at the NFL offices in New York City today in an effort to win an appeal of his six-game suspension. The league suspended Elliott earlier this month for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, stemming from an investigation that took place after an ex-girlfriend accused Elliott of domestic violence in Columbus, Ohio.
Elliott has not spoken publicly about the case since the suspension was announced, but his appeal will reportedly focus on the testimony given by Tiffany Thompson, his ex-girlfriend. Zeke's father, Stacy Elliott, shared some details of the domestic violence report a few weeks ago on social media in which Thompson allegedly said, “You are a black male athlete. I’m a white girl. They are not going to believe you.” Thompson was also quoted as saying, "I'm going to ruin your life."
According to ESPN, four advisors who reviewed information collected during the investigation said there is "substantial and persuasive evidence" against Zeke.
"In a letter sent to Elliott, Todd Jones, the league’s special counsel for conduct, said four advisors who reviewed information collected in an investigation lasting more than a year "were of the view that there is substantial and persuasive evidence supporting a finding that [Elliott] engaged in physical violence” against Tiffany Thompson on multiple occasions."
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has appointed Harold Henderson to be the arbitrator of the appeal hearing, which is noteworthy for a few reasons. According to ESPN, Henderson was a member of the NFL’s executive management council for years, serving with Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones. After the Cowboys most recent preseason game against the Oakland Raiders, Jerry Jones said Henderson “is a really great friend of mine. He was at my (Hall of Fame) party, and so you weren’t at that party unless you were a good friend, I promise you that.”
Additionally, Henderson served as the arbitrator of the hearing for former Cowboys player, Greg Hardy, in 2015 and had his 10-game suspension reduced to just four games.
There is no timetable for a decision to be made on Elliott's appeal but even if the suspension is upheld, the Cowboys could still fight the decision in court, which could make him eligible to play until the case is heard.
