The NFL botched the Ezekiel Elliott probe, but won't admit it

[DogFace]

The NFL just has to prove it was likely that he did it. They don't have the same burden a criminal prosecution has.

Apparently not.

Judged by the affidavits signed, the report on the fight the night the bruises appeared, her threatening to blackmail him, her saying she would ruin his career, and her general lack of credibility they don't have to do anything except appear to be hard on DV.

 

[Stash]

The NFL just has to prove it was likely that he did it. They don't have the same burden a criminal prosecution has.

They will in a court of law when, as I believe, this case gets there.

 

[diefree666]

The NFL just has to prove it was likely that he did it. They don't have the same burden a criminal prosecution has.

even there I doubt they can. Remember they want to make it so he has to prove he did not do it. That will not fly anywhere else.

 

[CyberB0b]

They will in a court of law when, as I believe, this case gets there.

It's my understanding that the NFLPA has given the NFL full discretion in these matters.

 

[aikemirv]

Even if all of that is true, he still could have done it.

And you could have punched me in the face, and it could be especially true if I asked someone to lie about it and say that they saw you do it. See how absurd that is!

 

[Texas_Pete]

I agree.

Furthermore, I think what happened is that some owners *coughcoughMaracoughcough* wanted EE suspended for a couple of games for the St. Paddy's Day incident which would have fell under 'conduct' and probably wanted at least a 1 game suspension and a max of 4. Then boy genius Goodell suspended him for 6 games and labeled EE as a woman beater and many of the owners weren't cool with that. And now Goodell is finding himself in hot water.

But, it was easy to tell the investigation was botched when Peter Harvey stated that Thompson was an eyewitness to her own accusation. And that the letter to EE made no mention of her lies to police, witness tampering, discussion of extortion or eyewitness accounts that countered her statements (which included eyewitnesses that said there were no bruises on her prior to the fight on the 21st).

So the next plan for the NFL is to try and shame EE for things that have nothing to do with the case at hand. It's wrong for somebody to bring up something like a woman's sexual past because it has nothing to do with the case at hand. But the league has no problem bringing up the St. Paddy's day incident and EE liking to party...which has nothing to do with the case at hand.

They screwed up and now they are trying to play the poor hapless female victim card and ignore everything she has done that pertains to the case.

I want to know where they got the meta-data from. I want to see Bosah's pic taken on the 21st. I think those are the smoking guns.




YR

Not enough likes for this post. Well said. I stand by my prediction that Zeke gets 0 games. When they compare his suspension to others, especially Josh Brown, he won't get any games. My hope is that he personally sues Goodell (who is rumored to make upwards of $40M/year) and really stick it to him. He should lose his job for how he botched this investigation. It's sickening.

 

[diefree666]

It's my understanding that the NFLPA has given the NFL full discretion in these matters.

It is not going to matter what the NFLPA did when it gets to federal court. Federal courts have a habit of doing what they want when they want.

 

[aikemirv]

It's my understanding that the NFLPA has given the NFL full discretion in these matters.

I don't think the CBA covers them in this case. This is not just a league punishing someone for behavior. This rises to a much higher level! They ignored any evidence that says that Zeke did not do it and gave great weight to 1 person testimony who had proven themselves to not be credible - This is negligence!

 

[EGTuna]

Article 46 of the CBA is what will likely result in Zeke losing in court - just like Brady did when the NFL took him to court. Brady won a reversal of the suspension in court, and then when the NFL took him to court, the NFL won based on Article 46 of the CBA, which essentially allows the NFL to suspend anyone for any length of time based on the ambiguous "conduct detrimental to the league." It matters not how credible the accuser is or isn't, or whether Zeke was charged.

If during the appeal, they reduce the suspension (doubt it), then Zeke will sue (like Brady did), and probably win (like Brady did) and be able to play until the NFL sues back (and wins), at which point Zeke will be suspended 6 games. So, based on Brady's precedent, Zeke will miss the first 6 games next year.

If in the unlikely event, the suspension gets reduced via appeal to 3 or 4 games, Zeke will have a tough decision. If he accepts it, he's essentially admitting he committed violence upon TT, so if he's intent on clearing his name, he will fight. If the suspension is reduced to 1 or 2 games....is it worth the fight? Depends on how you feel about your innocence and name. Some guys are in jail because they refused a plea, and it cost them years (Steven Avery, anyone?).

I hope Zeke is innocent, and I hope he never serves a game suspension, but I am pretty sure what will happen going forward. 6 game suspension...next year.

 

[Texas_Pete]

Does anyone know when she said in a text "I got my a** beat" was she talking about her fight with the volleyball player???

That exchange is confusing

Yes, she was, and that text was to Zeke. The investigation conveniently left that out in their report.

I'm glad the info was leaked. This is part of the info Goodell did not want to be made public.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Does anyone know when she said in a text "I got my a** beat" was she talking about her fight with the volleyball player???

That exchange is confusing

To our knowledge she never got into a physical altercation with the volleyball player (the girl that drove EE to his rental). She got into a fight with some random woman that nobody really knows who she is.

When she went to EE's rental (again, this is a woman claiming she was abused and under EE's control for 5 days and was willing to still go to an after party he was having)...she saw the volleyball player driving him and she confronted the volleyball player, but never got physical with her.

My guess is that she is likely talking about the incident at the bar where she got into a fight. The context just seems that way. I can't imagine anybody saying...hey, you just beat me, I need to be with you right now!

Of course, cue the morons that will claim that abused women say that all of the time.

Good grief.






YR

 

[gimmesix]

The NFL just has to prove it was likely that he did it. They don't have the same burden a criminal prosecution has.

I don't think it goes that far. For the NFL's purposes, it apparently only has to show it is possible that he did it. It it's decision has to be based on likelihood, then all the information out there would point to the league not suspending Elliott.

 

[DogFace]

Article 46 of the CBA is what will likely result in Zeke losing in court - just like Brady did when the NFL took him to court. Brady won a reversal of the suspension in court, and then when the NFL took him to court, the NFL won based on Article 46 of the CBA, which essentially allows the NFL to suspend anyone for any length of time based on the ambiguous "conduct detrimental to the league." It matters not how credible the accuser is or isn't, or whether Zeke was charged.

If during the appeal, they reduce the suspension (doubt it), then Zeke will sue (like Brady did), and probably win (like Brady did) and be able to play until the NFL sues back (and wins), at which point Zeke will be suspended 6 games. So, based on Brady's precedent, Zeke will miss the first 6 games next year.

If in the unlikely event, the suspension gets reduced via appeal to 3 or 4 games, Zeke will have a tough decision. If he accepts it, he's essentially admitting he committed violence upon TT, so if he's intent on clearing his name, he will fight. If the suspension is reduced to 1 or 2 games....is it worth the fight? Depends on how you feel about your innocence and name. Some guys are in jail because they refused a plea, and it cost them years (Steven Avery, anyone?).

I hope Zeke is innocent, and I hope he never serves a game suspension, but I am pretty sure what will happen going forward. 6 game suspension...next year.

The only thing is--maybe that there was some evidence that couldn't be explained in the Brady case like the cell phone and the inflator guy.

This case seems to have very little credible evidence at all. When you take into account all the affidavits and her plotting to blackmail him, and her being in a fight the night in question. Among other things

 

[Stash]

It's my understanding that the NFLPA has given the NFL full discretion in these matters.

I've heard some other people say that too. But I don't see where anyone could have given the league anything that contradicts innocent until proven guilty.

I also can't find where this "discression" was agreed to, since the Ray Rice incident occurred after the latest CBA was agreed to.

We're certainly going to find out either way.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

NO HE IS NOT! This investigation was just related to the DV incident.

The letter sent to Zeke mentions the parade incident directly and also mentions they interviewed the girl that he was with. So... YES HE IS!

 

[dogunwo]

Then boy genius Goodell suspended him for 6 games and labeled EE as a woman beater and many of the owners weren't cool with that.

Is this speculation?

 

[dogunwo]

And the burden is to prove that he did it, not to prove he didn't.

Something the NFL apparently forgot.

If even you use the ridiculous verdict of "It's more likely that he did than didn't", that would indicate that at a minimum Tiffany Thompson is 51% believable, which she is not.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

Is this speculation?

Yes, this is my speculation.



YR

 

[dogunwo]

based on Article 46 of the CBA, which essentially allows the NFL to suspend anyone for any length of time based on the ambiguous "conduct detrimental to the league.

You are right, the problem is, what is the conduct that led to the decision? Domestic violence? Ok. Now what proof do you have that was involved in said conduct?

 

[Stash]

If even you use the ridiculous verdict of "It's more likely that he did than didn't", that would indicate that at a minimum Tiffany Thompson is 51% believable, which she is not.

Everyone should welcome their day in court to be heard. It's a constitutional right in this country. Elliott's shouldn't be taken away, not by anybody.

And I'm certain that Thompson will waive that right (to testify) because she can't possibly reconcile all of he lies and inaccuracies.

That will separate the "offender" from the "victim" quite clearly.