Ezekiel Elliott Archives - IdealCapper

Elliott attorneys to seek new hearing before appeals court

Associated Press — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 04:00:00 +0000

DALLAS (AP) Attorneys for Ezekiel Elliott have indicated they intend to ask for another hearing before the federal appeals court that cleared the way for the NFL’s six-game suspension of the star Dallas Cowboys running back over domestic violence allegations.

Players’ union attorney Jeffrey Kessler wrote to a federal judge in New York on Friday that Elliott’s legal team would pursue a hearing before a larger panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.

A three-judge panel voted 2-1 to grant the NFL’s request to overrule a Texas court’s injunction that had blocked the suspension. The ruling also ordered the Texas court to dismiss Elliott’s lawsuit.

Barring another ruling in Elliott’s favor, the suspension will start Oct. 22 at San Francisco. The Cowboys are off this week.

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Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott stuffed by swarming Broncos defense

Associated Press — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 05:00:00 +0000

DENVER (AP) Ezekiel Elliott can easily recall the last time he was held to less than 10 yards rushing in a game.”Never,” the Dallas Cowboys running back said.

Elliott couldn’t find any daylight against a swarming Denver Broncos defense as the Cowboys fell 42-17 on Sunday in a game that was delayed 62 minutes by lightning.

His final numbers weren’t pretty: Nine carries, 8 yards. It was by far the worst game of Elliott’s pro career, with his longest scamper just a 5-yard mini-burst. He entered averaging around 5 yards per attempt since joining the Cowboys (1-1) last season.

”We just were getting dominated up front,” Elliott explained. ”We couldn’t get any movement off the ball. We couldn’t establish the run game.

”We definitely didn’t play up to our abilities. We have to go back, watch the film and rebuild, make sure we’re getting better.”

Elliott continues to play while his appeal of a six-game suspension for domestic violence works its way through the legal system. Asked if that weighed on him, Elliott didn’t take long in his response.

”No,” he said.

Instead, Elliott cited the lack of running lanes for his frustrating afternoon. That, and Denver (2-0) stacking the line of scrimmage to bottle up Elliott, who rushed for 104 yards in the season opener against the New York Giants.

”Once you cut off a priority like that, you make them change the game plan,” said Broncos pass rush specialist Von Miller, who had two sacks.

That’s precisely what Dallas did with QB Dak Prescott throwing it a career-high 50 times. Prescott had 238 yards passing with two TDs and two interceptions, including one in which Aqib Talib returned for a 103-yard score.

”They were loading up the box and playing man-to-man outside,” Prescott said. ”You really have to have some success throwing the ball to get them out of that defense and we were not able to do that on a consistent basis.”

Before Sunday, Elliott’s worst NFL rushing game was on Sept. 11, 2016, in his rookie debut when he was held to 51 yards by the Giants. In that contest, though, he scored a TD.

This time, his biggest contribution was a 9-yard reception with around 6 minutes left in the blowout.

”We definitely won’t be discouraged,” Elliott said. ”We can get so much better. If you’re peaking right now, you’re going to have a problem. You really don’t want to be peaking right now. You want to peak at the end of the season and get rolling. We just can’t come out and play like this.”

Dallas owner Jerry Jones was surprised to see his team’s run game so thoroughly stuffed. The Cowboys finished with 40 yards rushing – Prescott led the way with 24 – while the Broncos accumulated 178.

”We would’ve thought, with them doing a good job fundamentally, a good job, we would’ve thought the strength of our offensive line and what we had in the running game could make up for that,” Jones said. ”Boy, they were sound on their defense. I’m not even going to attempt to get into it technically, but they were where they were supposed to be.”

What lies ahead for Elliott and the Cowboys is this: More legal maneuvering. The NFL recently asked a federal appeals court to move quickly on its request to overrule a judge’s injunction that blocked the suspension for Elliott.

The league filed an emergency motion with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans last week, even though a federal judge in Texas hasn’t ruled on a request to put the injunction on hold while an appeal is pursued.

Jones believes Elliott will be available a week from Monday at Arizona. As for the rest of the season, ”I don’t know about that,” Jones said.

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NFL trying to speed appeal over blocked Elliott suspension

Associated Press — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 05:00:00 +0000

FRISCO, Texas (AP) The NFL is trying to accelerate the timeline in its appeal of a federal judge’s injunction that blocked Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott’s six-game suspension over a domestic violence case.

The NFL quickly answered a filing from Elliott’s attorneys Wednesday, telling U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant that the league would immediately go to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans if he didn’t rule on its request for a stay of his injunction by Thursday.

The legal maneuverings are unlikely to keep last year’s NFL rushing leader from playing Sunday at Denver. He had already been cleared to play in a season-opening win over the New York Giants before Mazzant granted his request for an injunction.

The NFL had until Friday to respond to arguments from Elliott’s camp against Mazzant putting his injunction on hold pending hearings. In that scenario, Mazzant wouldn’t have ruled until next week.

”If this court declines to grant relief, respondents intend to seek a stay from the Court of Appeals and believe it is important to give the Court of Appeals the opportunity to act promptly,” NFL attorneys wrote.

The 22-year-old Elliott was suspended by Commissioner Roger Goodell last month, and attorneys representing Elliott for the NFL Players’ Association contended in a lawsuit that Elliott didn’t get a fair hearing in an appeal that was denied.

Elliott was suspended after the league concluded he had several physical confrontations last summer with Tiffany Thompson, a former girlfriend. Prosecutors in Columbus, Ohio, decided about a year ago not to pursue the case in the city where Elliott starred for Ohio State, citing conflicting evidence.

In their latest filing, attorneys for Elliott argue that the NFL can’t meet the standard for irreparable harm because the league can still suspend the Dallas star if its wins on appeal.

The league argues that the harm is in Mazzant’s ruling interfering with a labor deal that was approved by both sides.

”Petitioner should not be allowed to evade its CBA obligations by delaying suspensions indefinitely through the courts,” NFL attorneys wrote.

A notice has been filed with the federal appeals court, but future filings with the three-judge panel in New Orleans have been on hold while the league followed the procedure of asking Mazzant for a stay of his ruling.

The NFL said its conclusions in suspending Elliott after a yearlong investigation were based on photographs, text messages and other electronic evidence. The running back denied the allegations under oath during the appeal.

The league has argued that it acted within the parameters of a labor agreement that gives Goodell broad authority to suspend players, and that the appeal process was consistent with its personal conduct policy.

Attorneys for Elliott contended that the appeal hearing before Harold Henderson was unfair because Henderson barred Thompson and Goodell from testifying and excluded notes from the investigation that were favorable to Elliott. Mazzant’s ruling for the injunction largely agreed.

Elliott, who had 1,631 yards rushing last year as a rookie, finished with 104 yards in the 19-3 win over the Giants.

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NFL seeks dismissal of Elliott”s challenge to 6-game ban

Associated Press — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 05:00:00 +0000

DALLAS (AP) The NFL is asking a federal court to toss a request from Ezekiel Elliott’s legal team for a temporary restraining order that would prevent the league from enforcing a suspension of the Dallas running back over a domestic violence case.

The filing Monday night said the request on Elliott’s behalf was invalid because it was asking the court to stop a ruling from Harold Henderson before the arbitrator had even made a decision on an appeal of the six-game suspension for last year’s NFL rushing leader.

Elliott was suspended when the NFL concluded after a yearlong investigation that Elliott had several physical altercations with his girlfriend at the time last summer in Ohio. Prosecutors declined to pursue the case, citing conflicting evidence. Elliott has denied wrongdoing.

The NFL filed a response to the request for a restraining order and a motion to dismiss in federal court in Sherman, Texas, about 65 miles north of Dallas. Both filings made similar arguments, including that the NFL Players’ Association was trying ”to beat the National Football League to the courthouse in a race that has not even begun.”

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Rookies toss fun into Cowboys’ serious pursuit of Super Bowl

Associated Press — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 05:00:00 +0000

FRISCO, Texas (AP) Ezekiel Elliott pelted fellow rookie Dak Prescott with straw wrappers and a spitball , and the Dallas quarterback tried to get his teammate to move along with an offer of candy.

Not that Prescott is innocent in such exchanges when reporters surround the lockers of these road-trip roommates. He’s been known to toss candy at Elliott when the new star running back of the Cowboys is answering questions.

Sure, Elliott’s the one who jumped into a jumbo Salvation Army red kettle during a game, drawing a penalty. But Prescott isn’t afraid to have a little fun with these first-year sensations trying to lead a famed franchise to its first Super Bowl in 21 years.

They’re rubbing off on 14th-year tight end Jason Witten, too.

”Just energy,” said Prescott, whose playoff debut with the NFC-leading Cowboys (13-3) will be Jan. 15 at home. ”If he’s got it, I’m going to have it. If I’ve I got it, he’s going to pick it up from me. Kind of just giving each other energy, giving this team energy. And having fun, being able to separate fun and business.”

Elliott is clearly the ringleader, thus the kettle stunt and his voracious consumption of cereal in a team-produced video, an exaggeration of the ”feed me” gesture that Elliott flashes every time he gets a first down.

When Prescott scores a touchdown, he doesn’t do much beyond pointing skyward in honor of his late mother, who died of cancer when he was at Mississippi State. And when Elliott told his quarterback before the game against Tampa Bay that he was pondering the kettle jump, Prescott steered clear of giving him a yay or a nay.

Does Prescott have a class clown on his hands? He won’t go that far.

”He’s fun,” Prescott said. ”But when it’s time to lock in, get in that film room, get out on the field, he definitely does that better than anyone.”

Enter the serious-minded Witten, by far the leading voice in the locker room after Prescott’s record-setting season relegated Tony Romo, the 10-year starter and Witten’s best friend, to the backup role.

Not only did Witten easily accept the changing roles at quarterback, fans might just see him joining a pre-game dance with his young teammates. Ever so briefly.

”Just the way it’s gone and to be able to have this opportunity to impact young players in such a positive way and the way they’re playing is remarkable,” Witten said. ”It’s fun to watch and be a part of it.

”You understand that every moment is really precious in that how all-in you are to it. That’s something I’ve been thinking about and they have put a smile on my face and they energize you in a lot of ways.”

Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan believes Prescott and Elliott would have the same rapport even if circumstances hadn’t thrust Prescott into a starring role alongside his running back, who carried the expectations of a No. 4 overall pick.

Prescott was a fourth-round choice expected to be the No. 3 quarterback all year. Only after injuries to backup Kellen Moore and Romo did the Cowboys consider starting him, and that was after he had shown some promise in the preseason.

”They’ve both got real unique, really great personalities,” Linehan said. ”I would think if they were teammates in college or just passing friends, they would be pretty good buddies I think. I feel that our whole rookie class has been good that way. I’ve noticed them doing a lot of things together. So that’s a good sign.”

Now they have their weekly interviews with reporters on the same day about a dozen lockers apart, one usually waiting for the other so all the cameras can get both.

”I think everyone on this team is loose,” said Elliott, the NFL rushing champion with 1,631 yards. ”We’re going to have fun. In a season that’s so long, it can get a little hectic. But just the fact that we can keep each other loose and have fun with what we’re doing just makes it better to go day by day.”

Success, of course, has to be a big part of the formula. Otherwise, who would notice? And it’s hard not to notice the first quarterback-running back tandem in NFL history with 20 touchdown passes (Prescott with 23) and 15 touchdowns rushing (Elliott’s 15).

That’s after they were the first rookie QB-RB combo to start the season opener for Dallas since Roger Staubach and Calvin Hill in 1969.

”I don’t really look at them as rookies anymore,” Witten said. ”The lights have been bright for quite some time for them and they just continue to answer the bell. They understand these are the bright lights and the thing I respect about them the most is they come to work.”

But they find time to play.

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Rookie Report: Dallas’ Elliott, Prescott command headlines

Associated Press — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 05:00:00 +0000

Hall of Fame general manager Bill Polian says a draft class can’t be fully measured until after their fourth season. As this year’s rookies prepare to hit the home stretch of their first regular season, one early assessment is crystal clear: Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott have been something special.

While Los Angeles’ Jared Goff and Philadelphia’s Carson Wentz went 1-2 last April and have had their share of struggles as starters, it has been Dallas’ dynamic duo that has dominated the headlines.

Besides leading the Cowboys to an 11-1 record and a playoff berth, Elliott and Prescott could achieve something very rare: teammates finishing in the top two in Offensive Rookie of the Year balloting.

THE BIG D DUO

Elliott, who leads the league with 1,285 rushing yards and is second with 12 rushing TDs, is a favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year. But Polian thinks Elliott should be in line for another honor.

”If I had a vote he would get it for MVP,” said Polian, an ESPN and Sirius NFL Radio analyst who built Buffalo and Indianapolis into Super Bowl contenders. ”He is an incredible talent. He makes a difference on every level.”

Elliott, the fourth overall pick, set a league rookie record with four straight games of 130-plus yards, and has 20 or more carries in all but two games.

Prescott, who has 2,974 passing yards and 19 touchdown passes, has been on quite a roll the past five games with 10 TDs, no interceptions and a 123.2 passer rating. Whether the fourth-round pick can become the first rookie quarterback to start a Super Bowl remains an intriguing question.

”Dak is doing well. He is getting looks that he normally wouldn’t see because the defense is concerned with trying to stop Zeke on so many levels. It helps set everything up,” Polian said.

WENTZ AND GOFF

Even though Goff has yet to win and Wentz is struggling after a great opening stretch, Polian has liked the development of both quarterbacks and thinks they continue to be on schedule.

Goff, who got his first start in Week 11, has four touchdowns and three interceptions. His biggest highlight so far: three first-half TD passes in his first road start Week 12 against New Orleans.

Wentz is the second quarterback since the merger to start the season 3-0. He didn’t throw an interception in his first 134 attempts, but has 11 in 318 attempts since.

HILL MAKING LATE RUN

Kansas City’s Tyreek Hill is someone to keep an eye on as he makes a late bid for top offensive rookie honors. The wide receiver, a fifth-round pick, is the first player in the Super Bowl era to have receiving, rushing, kick and punt return touchdowns.

In a Week 12 overtime win at Denver, he became the first rookie since Gale Sayers in 1965 to score with a run, catch and return.

The dynamic speedster has five touchdowns over his past three games, including two in Thursday night’s win over Oakland as the Chiefs took the lead in the AFC West. He said after the game, ”I guess it’s falling into place. Dante Hall told me to dream big and that is what I started to do.”

For what Hill has accomplished on the field – he has nine touchdowns this season – some have not forgotten he is less than two years removed from pleading guilty to a domestic violence charge while at Oklahoma State. The NFL took plenty of criticism over having Hill as part of the header on its Twitter account two weeks ago.

BEST TURNAROUND FROM DRAFT DAY

Laremy Tunsil made news for all the wrong reasons on draft day. There was the video posted on his Twitter account that showed him wearing a gas mask and smoking something from a bong, plummeting his status.

But the offensive lineman has played well for the Dolphins, allowing only half a sack in 10 starts.

Tunsil has started at both left guard and left tackle, becoming the first rookie in team history to start at least one game at both guard and tackle.

”I told him with great power comes great responsibility. He’s starting to learn that and did a good job fighting through his injury,” left tackle Brandon Albert said. ”It’s something he’s learning. That shows what he has in him.”

OTHER LINEMEN MAKING IMPACT

Tennessee right tackle Jake Conklin has allowed only half a sack, but his true strength is run blocking. The Titans are third in the league in rushing and DeMarco Murray is second to Elliott.

”With how coach (Mike) Mularkey and (general manager) Jon Robinson talked about what they wanted to create here, it’s panning out with what I was hoping to see,” Conklin said. ”With a run team and pound people and create that M.O. where we’re going to be physical throughout the whole game. I’ve really liked what I’ve been able to be a part of.”

Baltimore’s Ronnie Stanley, the first lineman taken at sixth overall, has started eight games at left tackle after missing four early in the season due to a foot injury. Detroit’s Taylor Decker has also started every game at left tackle, while third-round pick Graham Glasgow has become the starting left guard.

DEFENSE STILL A RACE

Despite missing the first five games due to a holdout and then injury, San Diego defensive lineman Joey Bosa has 5 1-2 sacks, nine tackles for loss and 15 quarterback hits in eight games. But Bosa had a stretch of only half a sack in four games.

Atlanta safety Keanu Neal, a first-round pick, leads rookies in tackles (79) despite missing the first two games due to injury. Neal also has four forced fumbles and two tackles for loss.

Chicago linebacker Leonard Floyd, who went ninth overall, leads rookies with seven sacks, also has returned a fumble for a touchdown and managed a safety last week against San Francisco.

FOUR OTHER ROOKIE STANDOUTS

Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans: The former Ohio State standout and first-round pick leads rookie receivers in receptions (69), yards (831) and touchdowns (seven). He’s having the best rookie season of any Saints WR since Marques Colston in 2006.

Jordan Howard, RB, Chicago: The fifth-round pick has been overshadowed by Elliott, but he is 117 yards away from 1,000 and is only the third Chicago rookie to have five 100-yard games.

Chris Jones, DT, Chiefs: The second-round pick has developed into an effective pass rusher; Pro Football Focus has him with 31 pressures. He would be getting more attention for defensive honors if he had more than two sacks.

Deion Jones, LB, Falcons: The second-round pick is second on the team in tackles with 74 and has quickly become one of the leaders of the defense with signal-calling responsibilities.

UNDRAFTED GEMS

Robert Kelley, RB, Washington: Kelley has started the past five games and is third among rookies in rushing yards (524).

Briean Boddy-Calhoun, DB, Cleveland: He is the only rookie this season with a sack and interception. He also has two picks, including a pick-6 in his debut Week 3 at Miami.

DISAPPOINTING STARTS

Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Arizona: Two weeks ago, coach Bruce Arians called out Nkemdiche for lack of work ethic and immaturity. It is the second straight year the Cardinals have gotten minimal production from their first-round pick (D.J. Humphries).

Laquon Treadwell, WR, Minnesota: The first-round pick has only one reception for 15 yards and has been inactive for three games.

Roberto Aguayo, K, Tampa Bay: The second-round pick is 15 of 22 on field goals, the worst percentage of any kicker in the league this season.

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AP Pro Football Writer Teresa M. Walker and Sport Writer Steven Wine contributed.

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