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Dallas Cowboys: Is Ezekiel Elliott being railroaded by perception?

By Carl Daley

ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 18: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up on the field prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 18, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 18: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys warms up on the field prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 18, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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The Dallas Cowboys may see multiple players hit with suspensions which just makes the start to the 2017 season a bit more cloudy than usual.

Since the Ezekiel Elliott suspension talk has ramped up lately, the Dallas Cowboys are facing a very unique situation. Unlike most suspension rumors, I don’t believe this one by ESPN’s Adam Schefter really doesn’t have any legs.

According to Schefter, he believes Elliott is bracing for a short suspension from the NFL in the coming weeks stemming from an alleged domestic violence incident that took place in 2016.

I believe any sort of suspension would only be a slap in the face to the Cowboys organization at this point as Elliott has not be found guilty of any wrong doing in a court of law. And apparently as many as four witnesses have spoken about his innocence when questioned by the police about the incident.

What we seem to have here is this expectation of guilt that some media pundits and writers seem to share with the league. I mean it does seem pretty typical, seeing a star player miss time on the field in the NFL thanks to off-the-field issues.

But this is not the same scenario. I believe Elliott is being railroaded by perception as people are expecting him to be guilty. But the league has a chance to send a clear message that they will not be swayed by media coverage.

The NFL (specifically it’s commissioner Roger Goodell) have been accused of being incredibly reactionary, clearing Elliott’s name would prove the opposite and that the league is capable of not overreacting.

Finally, clearing Zeke’s name would do a lot for establishing that the NFL is no longer the “no fun league” and would give Cowboys fans a collective sigh of relief. The league did give players the ability to celebrate again but this situation with Elliott has dragged on and on without any hint of a why.

Now we are at the precipice of a brand new season, and we are still waiting on a decision from the league and commissioner. Not only will Elliott’s status affect fantasy owners around the league, but it will continue to affect the Cowboys’ offseason plans.

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If Ezekiel Elliott is suspended early on in the 2017 season, that could have serious ramifications on the Dallas Cowboys’ season as a whole.

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