Dallas Cowboys Running Back Ezekiel Elliott's Suspension Reinstated; NFLPA Files Petition for Rehearing

By Noriel See, Christian Post Contributor Saturday, October 14, 2017

Ezekiel Elliott always knew that he was fighting an uphill battle against the National Football League (NFL).

The 2016 first-team All-Pro running back was supposed to serve a six-game suspension at the start of the season for violating the league's personal conduct policy, but his legal team and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) managed to delay the suspension by filing a temporary restraining order (TRO) to block it.

United State District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas Amos L. Mazzant III would rule in his favor, but the NFL countered by filing a motion to stay the preliminary injunction and they argued that the district court didn't have the jurisdiction to hear the case.

Elliott was allowed to suit up for the Dallas Cowboys while his case was pending. However, he received a huge blow on Thursday when United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled in favor of the NFL. That means the suspension has been reinstated.

The running back will have to serve his suspension immediately, but the legal battle isn't over yet.

On behalf of Elliott, the NFLPA is filing a petition for an en banc rehearing of the case.

"If the court recalls the mandate and lawyers file for an en banc rehearing, the Dallas Cowboys running back would be allowed to play again while the court determines whether or not to grant the request, according to Gabe Feldman, director of the Tulane Sports Law Program. A majority of the court's active judges would have to agree to rehear the case for it to move forward," NFL Network's Austin Knoblauch said in his report.

Since it's going to take some time for the court make a decision, Elliott may still get the chance to suit up for the Cowboys when they take on the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 22.