Cowboys probably lucky Elliott suspension isn’t longer
By Ben Davila
For the Dallas Cowboys, the erratic nature of NFL discipline came home to roost upon the announcement of Ezekiel Elliott’s six-game suspension.
I was in the midst of a long road trip to the east coast when word came down last week. Dallas Cowboys’ running back Ezekiel Elliott received a six-game suspension related to his ongoing domestic violence investigation. Previous to that, local conjecture indicated suspension of a game or two. So it was of some surprise when we discovered the length of the layoff.
Of course, the appeal process will likely trim some time off the initial punishment. I’ve even heard this could go the Tom Brady route and end up in court. Seems possible, given that Jerry Jones was reportedly furious when informed. Whatever the case, allow me to suggest this suspension could’ve gone longer. League commissioner Roger Goodell is clearly making an example of the young running back. Is it consistent with his prior actions in similar situations? Of course not.
But if we’re taking the big picture into account here, let’s take a look at why Goodell had to project strength in this particular case. Of course, the NFL only recently caught up to the rest of the world in realizing that, you know, beating women is wrong. The way Goodell handled the cases of Ray Rice and Greg Hardy left a lot of egg on the league’s face.
Consequently, even in a case where there was little concrete evidence of criminal malfeasance, Goodell simply had no choice but to levy the punishment. I’d also bet money that a longer sentence was discussed. But in the end, it seems like the precedent was probably the six games originally given to Ben Roethlisberger back in 2010. That too was reduced despite the sinister nature of his transgression.
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Now, before anyone accuses me of apologizing for Elliott, allow me some latitude here. I generally believe there is fire in the presence of smoke. We also know that he’s a wild card in a town that’s used to seeing them. The inmates tend to run the asylum down here, rhetoric to the contrary be damned. Anyone who follows the Cowboys on a regular basis hears the stories. The kid enjoys the spotlight and the inherent spoils. More troubling are rumblings that he drinks heavily. His penchant for the club scene and the seedier underbelly of life portend a tendency to find trouble.
The case surrounding his suspension is no exception. Is the kid talented beyond belief? Unbelievably so. But he also came from a football factory, and has no doubt been coddled throughout his life. His skill set makes him useful. Therefore, people who should know better turn the other cheek to his flaws. Sooner or later, it was bound to catch up to him–and them. The chickens, as they say, are coming home to roost.
Domestic violence raps cannot be taken lightly. As a fan, it doesn’t really matter to me that there are no criminal charges looming. Zeke’s body of work really speaks for itself at this point. The real question here is whether or not he learns anything from this. Does he take the punishment and become a better man for it? Or does he brush it off and keep up his same old song and dance? I personally fear it will be the latter.
Moreover, there’s a part of me that hopes this suspension is upheld to its fullest. That would be the only way the lesson would drill through to the Cowboy brass. Six games is not a slap on the wrist. It’s almost half a season. That span of games could make all the difference between contending for a title and utter mediocrity. The organization hitched their wagon to this player, but he’ll be of little help if he’s sitting at home watching on TV.
Next: Dallas Cowboys: Ezekiel Elliott suspension sets ridiculous precedent
This team can be very good this year. As we learned in 2014 and again last season, it’s a lot of fun to watch the Dallas Cowboys maraud the NFL. But as we’ve also discovered over the past two decades and change, it’s very frustrating to see them repeat their same mistakes time and time again. Their misfortune is of their own doing. Zeke has no one to blame for this mess but himself. He has to set the example, not be one.