Chris Snan, Staff Columnist~
We are approaching week six of the NFL’s (National Football League) regular season, and some big news just hit the media.
Star running-back Ezekiel Elliott, of the Dallas Cowboys, had his suspension reinstated which will now put him out of play for a total of six weeks. At this point in the season, the timing could not be any worse for him or the Dallas Cowboys. The regular season only lasts 15 weeks, and since it’s week six, Elliott is looking at potentially returning to the field at some point during week 12. At this point in the season, it’s almost useless for him to make a return.
Earlier this summer, Elliott found himself in some trouble with the NFL when his ex-girlfriend claimed that there was some domestic violence going on in their relationship. Commissioner Roger Goodell has a history of punishing players who get into legal trouble; Tom Brady and Adrian Peterson are just a few of the guys who faced suspensions much like Elliott’s. That being said, when news organizations were notified of these reports, Goodell did not hesitate; he immediately issued a six-game suspension for the young star, before the season even began, for violations of the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
Before week one, Elliott and his lawyers fought to put off or abolish the suspension. Their efforts turned into a success when the NFL stated that the suspension was uplifted, due to some inconsistency in the investigation, which allowed Elliott to play all the way through week five. However, the NFL did not say they were no longer looking into Elliots case, and they also never stated that the suspension would not be reinstated. So, upon further investigation, Goodell and the rest of the board decided that they now have enough evidence to reinstate the six-week suspension.
Clearly, Elliott and the Cowboys aren’t happy with this news, and they seek to overturn it, which will make even more drama off the field for the team and the running back. Question is, what’s next for Ezekiel Elliott? Will he beat the suspension and the NFL, like Tom Brady did last year? Chances are, probably not, but only time will tell.
