NFL suspends Ezekiel Elliott six games after lengthy domestic violence investigation

The year-long wait is over.

The NFL has announced that Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott will be suspended six games for violating its personal conduct policy.

The league has been investigating Elliott since his ex-girlfriend in Columbus, OH accused the running back of domestic violence on separate occasions in July 2016..She posted troubling evidence of abuse on Instagram (though did not name Elliott) and attempted to press charges.   Columbus City Attorney’s office decided not to press charges due to “conflicting and inconsistent information.”

The NFL launched an independent investigation that included interviews with Elliott’s ex-girlfriend, Elliott and several others. It also parsed through voluminous text messages and consulted with outside legal and medical experts.

From the NFL’s statement:

In a letter to Elliott advising him of the decision, Todd Jones, the NFL’s Special Counsel for Conduct, said these advisors “were of the view that there is substantial and persuasive evidence supporting a finding that [Elliott] engaged in physical violence against Ms. Thompson on multiple occasions during the week of July 16, 2016.

Elliott has three days to appeal, and a hearing must be scheduled within 10 days.