The NFL Players Association filed an emergency motion Wednesday with the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to prevent the league from beginning the suspension of Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott during the appeal process.
The union asked Tuesday that the suspension be delayed until the Court of Appeals could consider the issue, but that could take weeks or months to be heard.
Elliott, 22, was suspended in August after the league investigated several alleged physical confrontations in the summer of 2016 with his then-girlfriend.[[290815791,R]]
In the appeal filed Wednesday, the NFLPA said: The NFLPA requests an emergency injunction pending appeal of the district court's denial of a preliminary injunction, preserving the status quo and preventing the NFL from enforcing the six-game suspension imposed by Commissioner Goodell and sustained by Arbitrator Henderson's arbitral award. The NFLPA also requests that the Court expedite this appeal and issue an administrative stay."
The NFL Players Association first asked U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla to suspend her Monday ruling reinstating the suspension during an appeal. But she refused Tuesday, so the file was moved to the appeals court.
Wednesday's emergency motion was filed after the case was moved to the appeals court the day before. The case was put on the court's docket Tuesday, but it could take weeks or months to process the appeal.
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Union lawyers said Elliott's suspension should be delayed until the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals considers the issue. League lawyers had no immediate comment.
If the appeal is not granted, Elliott will begin serving his suspension immediately and will not be eligible to return until the team's final three games, starting Dec. 17 at Oakland. The Cowboys (4-3), defending NFC East champions, are in second place in the division behind the 7-1 Eagles.
