Jerry Jones: Ezekiel Elliott Is ‘Victim Of Overcorrection,’ Blasts Goodell Over Ray Rice Case Handling

Jerry Jones believes Ezekiel Elliott’s six-game suspension is unfair, and believes the reason stems from a prior NFL scandal.

Ezekiel Elliott NFL Suspension News

The Dallas Cowboys owner said he thinks the second-year running back — whose request for a preliminary injunction was denied by a federal judge on Monday night — is paying for the errors NFL commissioner Roger Goodell made while handling Ray Rice’s domestic violence case in 2014.

As a result of Monday’s ruling, Elliott — who was also initially suspended for a 2016 domestic violence incident involving his ex-girlfriend — will not be allowed on the field again until Dec. 17 against the Oakland Raiders, pending a potential appeal.

“His swing of judgment has been unbelievable from the Ray Rice thing [from] one or two games all the way up to a six-game suspension when you truly have got a debate,” Jones said of Goodell. “Even this judge said it shows that very reasonably people could possibly come down on both sides of this. Well, under our legal system it has to be stronger than that for someone to have done it. Now, we all know we were not there to see it, but I do have every point of contention on both sides and in our system in this country, Zeke would not have any issue here as to his work place.

“With the knowledge that I have, the circumstances aren’t treating him fair. Two years ago this wouldn’t be an issue, before Ray Rice.”

Lead investigator Kia Roberts, who was the only person in the league to interview the alleged victim, said she did not believe Elliott should be disciplined. A video of Elliott’s incident with his girlfriend surfaced earlier this year.

Without Elliott — who has 690 yards on 164 carries and six touchdowns — Dallas will turn to Alfred Morris, Darren McFadden and Rod Smith.

Jones also clarified that he was in no way condoning domestic violence by defending Elliott.

“If we have a player or we have somebody guilty of domestic violence, they shouldn’t play,” Jones said. “But this isn’t the case. In our society [Elliott’s] not guilty of that.”

U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla — who denied Elliott’s injunction request — noted the lack of evidence of a “conspiracy” against the running back, which the NFL Players Association alleged in its initial filings —

ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 26: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys runs for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the first half at AT&T Stadium on December 26, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)