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SPORTS Friday 13 OctOber 2017
Court clears way for 6-game suspension of Cowboys’ Elliott

By SCHUYLER DIXON The NFL had already
AP Pro Football Writer agreed to let Elliott play
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — A in the opener before his
federal appeals court request for an injunction
cleared the way Thursday was granted by U.S. District
for the NFL to impose a six- Judge Amos Mazzant in
game suspension on Dallas Sherman, north of Dallas.
Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott Henderson ruled against El-
over domestic violence al- liott the same day Mazzant
legations, siding with the heard arguments over the
league in the latest high- injunction.
profile fight over its ability Gabe Feldman, director
to punish players for off- of the sports law program
field behavior. at Tulane University Law
In a 2-1 decision, the 5th School, noted that the
U.S. Circuit Court of Ap- opinion dealt only with ju-
peals panel in New Or- risdictional issues and not
leans granted the league’s the question of whether
emergency request to set the NFL’s appeals process
aside an injunction and was unfair to Elliott.
ordered a district court “This is certainly a signifi-
in Texas to dismiss Elliott’s cant setback,” Feldman
case. said. “But they still have a
The NFL announced that chance because this deci-
the suspension was effec- In this Sept. 10, 2017, file photo, Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) kneels in prayer in sion was not made on the
tive immediately, though the end zone before an NFL football game against the New York Giants in Arlington, Texas. merits of the case. He has
further appeals were pos- Associated Press yet to have a federal court
sible and the Cowboys are who argued that the inves- Goodell after the league Edward Prado wrote for rule against him on the
not playing this weekend. tigation of the allegations concluded following a the majority. “The parties merits. Until that happens,
“We are currently exploring in Ohio and a subsequent yearlong investigation that contracted to have an ar- he still has a chance.”
all of our legal options and appeal were unfair to El- he had several physical bitrator make a final deci- Elliott, who set a Dallas
will make a decision as to liott, one of the league’s confrontations in the sum- sion. That decision had not rookie franchise record
what is the best course standout running backs. mer of 2016 with Tiffany yet been issued.”In dissent, with 1,631 yards rushing last
of action in the next few The NFL countered that it Thompson, his girlfriend at Judge James Graves dis- season, is fourth in the NFL
days,” Elliott attorney Frank followed procedures un- the time.Prosecutors in Co- agreed that the suit was with 393 yards this year.
Salzano said. der the league’s labor deal lumbus, Ohio, decided not filed prematurely. Graves He had a season-high 116
The Cowboys don’t play and that the union improp- to pursue the case in the noted the union’s argu- yards in a 35-31 loss to
again until next Sunday, erly filed a lawsuit before city where Elliott starred for ment that the league had Green Bay on Sunday.
Oct. 22, at San Francisco. the appeals process was Ohio State, citing conflict- violated the collective If the case shifts to federal
If Elliott’s legal team can’t complete.The most likely ing evidence. bargaining agreement court in New York, home
put the suspension on hold destination for further legal Elliott’s legal team filed the because key information to league headquarters
again, he won’t be eligi- challenges from players’ lawsuit on his behalf in the had been withheld from and the site of Elliott’s ap-
ble to play until Nov. 30 at union attorneys represent- Eastern District of Texas be- Goodell and Elliott’s repre- peal hearing with Hender-
home against Washington, ing Elliott is with the South- fore Henderson had reject- sentatives before the sus- son, the venue is a famil-
a Thursday night game the ern District of New York. ed the appeal. The 5th Cir- pension was ordered and iar one. The NFL won the
week after Thanksgiving. The NFL filed in that federal cuit agreed with the NFL’s the arbitrator’s decision “Deflategate” decision in
Elliott played the first five court after Elliott’s appeal claim that the filing was was based on incomplete the New York court, lead-
games as Dallas went 2-3 through the league was premature. information. The suit was ing to New England quar-
in a disappointing start. denied by arbitrator Harold “The procedures provided properly filed in the district terback Tom Brady serving
A federal judge in Texas is- Henderson last month. for in the collective bar- court because the arbi- his four-game suspension a
sued the injunction block- Last year’s NFL rushing gaining agreement be- tration process called for year after it was originally
ing the suspension last leader as a rookie, Elliott tween the NFL and NFLPA in the labor deal was not imposed. A federal judge
month, agreeing with NFL was suspended in August were not exhausted,” properly followed, Graves had put Brady’s suspension
players’ union attorneys by Commissioner Roger Judges Jennifer Elrod and argued. on hold.q
NFL, 4 teams to contribute to

Mexico City earthquake relief

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL help rebuild homes affect- fected by the disaster.Tens
and the Patriots, Raiders ed by the earthquake in of thousands of homes
and Steelers will together and around Mexico City. and apartments were de-
contribute $200,000 to The Cowboys have com- stroyed and will have to be
support disaster relief ef- mitted $50,000 to the Sal- rebuilt following the Sept.
forts following last month’s vation Army’s relief efforts 19 magnitude-7.1 quake,
earthquake in Mexico City. in Mexico City to assist which killed 369 people,
The money will go to Ban- with crisis intervention ser- and an earlier, even more
orte’s Fundación Banorte, vices for victims and first re- powerful one that struck in
which is a local bank in- sponders. southern Mexico on Sept. 7
volved with relief efforts. The Salvation Army will with a magnitude of 8.1.
They will match these do- provide water, food, shel- The Raiders will host the Pa-
nations dollar for dollar. ter and emotional care triots at Estadio Azteca on
Such funds will be used to to those immediately af- Sunday, Nov. 19.q