Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys starting running back has received a six-game suspension, but he is not going to waste his time and is expected to practice outside the United States, according to team executive Stephen Jones. Jones had an interview with 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, but he didn’t want to reveal where exactly Zeke is going to practice.
The first one to report on Elliott was NFL Network, whereas Jones said: “Actually, I give Zeke credit. This was his idea. He’s wanting to really go to work and not have distractions while he’s not able to play the game. He felt the best way to do that was to get away from this environment … and really work to get himself in the best possible shape.”
Jones disclosed that Elliott shared his training plans with the Dallas Cowboys coaches as well as the strength and conditioning staff and they were pleased with what they heard from the running back. It appears that Elliott has a good plan even though he will be absent for six games, and the Cowboys owner Jerry Jones agrees with this. Stephen Jones, Jerry’s son, said that the team wasn’t allowed to be in touch with Elliott, but he hoped that the talented running back would stay in shape.
“Certainly it’s not easy when you’re not in a competitive environment, but it sounds like he has a good plan and hopefully one he’ll pull off,” he said.
Roger Goodell, the NFL commissioner, suspended Ezekiel Elliott in August after a year-long investigation which concluded that RB had physical confrontations with his former girlfriend, Tiffany Thompson, thus breaking NFL’s personal conduct policy. The case was transferred from court to court, and NFLPA and Elliott’s legal team managed to keep him on the field for eight games, the last one was against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Elliott’s absence was noticeable in the 27-7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, and the entire team ended up with only 107 rushing yards. Alfred Morris, who was in the backfield instead of Elliott had 53 yards on 11 carries, almost all coming in the second half. Elliott has been one of the best runners in the league, with the total of 783 rushing yards in the eight games he was on the field.
The hearing is scheduled for December 1st when Elliott will know whether he will serve the entire suspension, which is likely to happen. Stephen Jones concluded: “He’ll be a better person from this and a better player for us when this is all said and done. It will be a life lesson for him, and hopefully, he’ll come back and take the next chapter.”
