A judge denied Cowboys Ezekiel Elliot’s attempt to block his six-game suspension Monday. U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla denied a request for a preliminary injunction after hearing arguments from the NFL and NFLPA, reports ESPN.
The judge stayed the decision for 24 hours to let parties have the opportunity to consider appellate options.
This ruling means that his suspension is again in effect and he would be ineligible to play until the Cowboys’ game against the Oakland Raiders on Dec. 17, reports ESPN. He does have the option of appealing the decision and seek a stay that would allow him to continue to play while the appeal process happens.
Judge Failla said “the NFLPA has failed to demonstrate a substantial question warranting the extraordinary remedy of injunctive relief or a balance of hardships that decidedly weighs in its favor,” according to ESPN.
The Cowboys would not give any comment. ESPN reports that Coach Jason Garrett had already said that the team had taken Elliott’s situation into account. Garrett said during his weekly press conference that the team has some “veteran running backs” and “it’s not like we’re just living this day and we don’t think about the future at all,” according to ESPN. He also said that you build a team with multiple players at each position, and you’re always thinking about the multiple scenarios that could play out.
Elliott’s suspension occurred in August for violating the league’s personal conduct policy “relating to domestic violence allegations by a former girlfriend,” reports ESPN. Authorities in Columbus, Ohio investigated the allegations but did not charge him with a crime.
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