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Now that Ezekiel Elliott's appeal for his six-game suspension is in the books, it's now up to the powers up top to decide the Dallas Cowboys running back's fate on whether or not he'll serve less or no time at all in the doghouse.
Given how vital Elliott's role is in Dallas' offense, it stands to reason that the Cowboys would want a hasty verdict on the appeal. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the man on the case is put on the spot to do just that:
Harold Henderson, the appeals officer in the Ezekiel Elliott hearing, is under pressure to have a decision by Monday, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 31, 2017
With the preseason wrapped up on Thursday night, arbitrator Harold Henderson is now on the hot seat to come up with a decision on the appeal by the start of next week, with Week 1 of the regular season less than a week away.
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Elliott's six-game suspension was a result of a physical altercation with his ex-girlfriend. Although the 2016 season's rushing leader denied all claims regarding the incident, Henderson must thoroughly assess both sides of the case before coming to a decision, and not be too pressured by the added weight of expectations coming from such a prolific player and the franchise he plays for.
The NFL has buckled down on domestic abuse charges following the aggravated assault case of former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, who was caught on tape punching his wife's face in an elevator in 2014. Rice only received a two-game suspension from the NFL, which drew a ton ire from the public considering that a two-game suspension was but a slap on the hand compared to the lengthier suspensions served for players who've committed other infractions; predominantly, illegal substance abuse.
Commissioner Roger Goodell admitted shortly thereafter that the league's decision to hand out a mere two-game ban to Rice wasn't the right call, which then led to the NFL's revised policy on domestic abuse. And if that's the case, there really should be no reason to rush to a conclusion on Elliott's appeal unless Henderson is 100-confident in his assessment.
Meanwhile, the 22-year-old standout best learn well from this incident if he truly desires to become the next great running back for America's Favorite Team.
