Wednesday, August 30, 2017
DALLAS COWBOYS
Elliott suspension hearing stretches to second day
NEW YORK
Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott’s appeal of his six-game suspension over a domestic violence incident is headed for a second day with no timeline for completion of the hearing.
The appeal before arbitrator Harold Henderson is being held at an undisclosed location. The NFL suspended its 2016 rushing leader after concluding that he was physically abusive toward his then-girlfriend in Ohio last summer. Prosecutors declined to pursue the case.
The league’s letter detailing the suspension also cited an incident when Elliott was caught on video pulling down a woman’s shirt during a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dallas. The NFL said that incident wasn’t considered in the six-game ban, but indicated a pattern of poor behavior.
Elliott, who had 1,631 yards rushing as a rookie, made his only appearance of the preseason last week at home against Oakland.
The 22-year-old was excused from practice this week to attend the hearing and wouldn’t have played anyway in the exhibition finale against Houston. That game was relocated to the home of the Cowboys because of flooding from Hurricane Harvey in Houston.
TENNESSEE TITANS
WRs Decker, Davis return to practice after injuries
NASHVILLE, TENN.
Tennessee wide receivers Eric Decker and rookie Corey Davis have returned to practice, and coach Mike Mularkey isn’t ready to rule either out of the Titans’ preseason finale Thursday night at Kansas City.
Mularkey says the Titans will practice again Wednesday and will see how both receivers feel after limited work.
Both could use any work with quarterback Marcus Mariota. The Titans signed Decker after their offseason program ended in June, while Davis, the fifth overall pick in the draft, was limited through the offseason coming off ankle surgery.
Davis did more in the team’s final minicamp the last week of the offseason, but he hurt his hamstring Aug. 3 after missing the opening day of training camp.
CINCINNATI BENGALS
Lewis says suspended LB Burfict is a changed man
Dateline
Coach Marvin Lewis defended the hit by Vontaze Burfict that caused the NFL to suspend him for five games and insisted that the Bengals linebacker has changed his ways on the field to conform to the league’s emphasis on player safety.
Lewis said there’s nothing wrong with how Burfict leveled Chiefs running back Anthony Sherman during a preseason game, resulting in the linebacker’s latest suspension.
“In my opinion, Vontaze has changed,” Lewis said Tuesday. “He’s learned. He’s a 250-pound man, but he hits like dynamite. I mean, it’s like being hit by a cement truck. That’s just the way he plays. That’s why he’s the player he is.”
The hit wasn’t penalized during the game, but the NFL can impose fines and suspensions after reviewing video of games.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy pointed out in an email to The Associated Press that the league’s rulebook bans “unnecessary contact” against players who aren’t in position to defend themselves. Also, the rules prohibit “unnecessary roughness” against a player who isn’t involved in a play.
Sherman was coming out of the backfield but wasn’t the intended receiver when Burfict leveled him with a hit high to his chest as the pass went down the field.
OAKLAND RAIDERS
Rookie CB Conley practice for first time since June
ALAMEDA, CALIF.
The Oakland Raiders finally got their first-round draft pick on the practice field when cornerback Gareon Conley passed his physical and was taken off the physically unable to perform list Tuesday.
Conley injured his shin during minicamp on June 13 and had not practiced since then. Conley was limited at his first practice and has little time to get ready for the season opener on Sept. 10 at Tennessee.
The Raiders have a walkthrough scheduled for today and play their exhibition finale on Thursday against Seattle. The team won’t get back on the field until a walkthrough next Tuesday before having three days of practice before the game against the Titans.
Conley and coach Jack Del Rio were unavailable for comment Tuesday.
Associated Press