Another layer to the mess that is the NFL’s disciplinary action against Ezekiel Elliott: His suspension is in effect again, two weeks after a judge ruled that the league would be “temporarily restrained and enjoined from enforcing” discipline against Elliott until a different judge returned from vacation at the end of the month. But now it’s the end of the month, Judge Katherine Failla is back from vacation, and she’s denied the NFLPA’s request for a preliminary injunction—meaning that the suspension is back on.
The opinion is in full below:
A reminder of the background here: Elliott was initially suspended for six games, appealed the suspension and was able to play in Week 1 while the appeal was pending, then had the suspension blocked by a federal judge who found that the league did not give Elliot a fair hearing, only to watch the NFL appeal his injunction, which was vacated, meaning that the suspension was reinstated. Until Judge Paul Crotty announced that the suspension could not actually be reinstated until Judge Failla was present. Ezekiel played in the Cowboys’ last two games, and now we’re here.