NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Elliott, Norman
The NFL says it expects a decision from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Ezekiel Elliott’s appeal “soon,” ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. Of course, we’ve been here before, but that verbiage may mean that we’ll have a resolution on the Cowboys running back before the end of business on Tuesday.
If the CA5 ruling does not come down today, the league will have to decide how to handle Elliott’s status for Week 5. Earlier this year, the league allowed the running back to play in the season opener when arbitrator Harold Henderson could not reach a decision by the previous Tuesday. If the judge is similarly delayed, it remains to be seen whether the NFL will allow Elliott to go against the Packers on Sunday.
Here’s more from the NFC East:
- Redskins cornerback Josh Norman has a “significant” rib injury and will miss a “couple of weeks,” coach Jay Gruden told ESPN’s Lisa Salters (link via PFT). Norman left Monday night’s game holding his ribs with roughly two minutes to go in the first half. Testing on Tuesday will reveal the full extent of Norman’s injury. The team is concerned about internal injury, particularly with regard to his lungs (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com).
- The Cowboys miss Doug Free‘s experience and Ronald Leary‘s run blocking, Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News opines. Free retired this offseason while Leary left the team in free agency to sign with Denver.
East Rumors: Cowboys, Elliott, Jets, Giants
Despite some optimism about a potential court ruling on Monday, the Ezekiel Elliott saga is ongoing. If things are still in limbo by the end of business Tuesday, we still don’t know whether or not the NFL will allow the Cowboys running back to play, as Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. There will be no decision from the league on that matter until the judge makes his decision. The Cowboys are set to face the Packers on Sunday afternoon in Dallas.
Here’s more from the East divisions:
- Jets coach Todd Bowles says he hasn’t made a decision yet on wide receiver Jalin Marshall, who is eligible to return after serving a four-game suspension (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini). There may not be a place for Marshall on the team at this time, so it is a situation to monitor. Already, the Jets have five receivers on the roster in Jeremy Kerley, Robby Anderson, Jermaine Kearse, ArDarius Stewart, and Chad Hansen with Kerley handling punts and Stewart on kickoff return duty.
- The x-rays came back negative on the ribs of Giants running back Paul Perkins and a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) that he likely just bruised them. Perkins’ pain tolerance for pain will now dictate whether he misses time.
- Bills head coach Sean McDermott says safety Colt Anderson will need surgery for his forearm (Twitter link via Joe Buscaglia of WKBW). Anderson has yet to see time on defense but is a regular on special teams. The injury will likely land him on IR.
Elliott Ruling Could Take Two Weeks
Here’s the latest from several East Coast teams (and the Cowboys).
- Monday’s Ezekiel Elliott-vs.-NFL battle is expected to produce a decision within the next two weeks, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports. While the Cowboys running back isn’t sure he will venture to New Orleans where his legal team and the NFLPA will represent him in this saga’s latest courtroom chapter, the Fifth District Court of Appeals could free him up to play the rest of the season or reinstate his six-game suspension. Neither side is interested in a settlement, however.
NFL Workout Updates: 9/29/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to Twitter unless otherwise noted:
Carolina Panthers
- QB Marcus McDade; WRs C.J. Board and Germone Hopper (link via Howard Balzer)
Cleveland Browns
- P Brock Miller (link via Howard Balzer)
Dallas Cowboys
- LBs Richie Brown and Kenneth Olugbode (story via Todd Archer of ESPN.com)
Kansas City Chiefs
- WR Marcus Lucas (link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star)
New England Patriots
- C Anthony Fabiano; OTs Jake Rodgers and Victor Salako; LBs Austin Calitro and Cam Johnson (link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
New York Giants
- RBs William Stanback and James Summers (link via Art Stapleton of the Record)
New York Jets
- LB Jayrone Elliott (link via Howard Balzer)
Seattle Seahawks
- LB Bryan Braman (original story) (link via Balzer)
Washington Redskins
- WR Rashard Davis (link via Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post)
NFL Not Discussing Ezekiel Elliott Settlement
The NFL has not discussed a possible settlement with Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott‘s attorneys, according to Tom Pelisserio of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Elliott, who is facing a six-game suspension stemming from domestic violence allegations, will be uniform when Dallas faces the Rams on Sunday, as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will begin deliberations the following Monday. A three-judge panel — one that holds a pro-business view that could favor the NFL, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk — will decide whether Elliot’s injunction against the league was filed within the correct jurisdiction.
The NFL will essentially argue that Elliott’s case was the “wrong suit in the wrong court at the wrong time,” tweets David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. If the court rules from the bench (something a source tells Florio to expect) and dismisses the injunction, the case will be sent to New York federal court, where the league already filed a lawsuit.
Elliott, for his part, is reportedly not willing to accept any settlement that would involve accepting any blame. The NFL, meanwhile, won’t absolve him, so there is apparently no middle ground where an agreement could be struck.
Cowboys Work Out LB Eric Pinkins
- Linebacker Eric Pinkins worked out for the Cowboys on Thursday, Wilson tweets. Pinkins played in 11 games between 2015-16, for the Seahawks and Giants, before failing to make the Giants out of training camp. The Cowboys have two linebackers on their injury report, Sean Lee and Anthony Hitchens. Neither got in a full practice Thursday.
Latest On Ezekiel Elliott Case
The NFL will have its latest opportunity to gain the upper hand in its battle with Ezekiel Elliott and the NFLPA when the sides convene Monday in New Orleans for the Fifth District Court of Appeals hearing. However, the league is attempting to take action that will send this case elsewhere.
Based on the notion Elliott filed his initial appeal of his six-game suspension before league-appointed arbiter Harold Henderson issued his ruling, the NFL asked a federal appeals court to lift the injunction — one that’s allowing the Cowboys running back to play while his case traverses the legal system, according to Schuyler Dixon of the Associated Press. The league wants the case dismissed and Elliott to begin serving his suspension.
Both sides will have a chance to present oral arguments to the appellate court Monday afternoon. The NFL is arguing the Texas judge that granted Elliott’s injunction, Amos Mazzant, did not have jurisdiction regarding this subject matter since the appeal came before Henderson’s ruling. The NFLPA countered by saying Mazzant did, in fact, have jurisdiction because Henderson rejected a request allow testimony from Roger Goodell or accuser Tiffany Thompson during Elliott’s appeal hearing, thus prompting Elliott’s lawsuit in Texas to start the legal proceedings.
The NFL’s attempt being successful would send this case to New York federal court, where the league already filed a lawsuit. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes the NFL believes it has a much better chance of winning this case there.
Elliott remains eligible for Sunday’s Week 4 game against the Rams, but more legal jargon will be coming Monday after a critical day in his case ensues.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/26/17
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Anthony Denham, LB Earl Okine
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: WR Reggie Davis
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Jamaal Jones
Chicago Bears
- Signed: WR Tre McBride, CB Doran Grant
- Cut: OL D.J. Tialavea
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Bug Howard
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: LB Tre’von Johnson
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: TE Marcus Lucas, G Ian Silberman
- Cut: OLB Johnathan Calvin, TE Henry Krieger-Coble, T Andrew Wylie
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DB Arthur Maulet
New York Jets
- Signed: CB Robert Nelson
- Cut: WR Kalif Raymond
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DE Branden Jackson
- Cut: DB Tyvis Powell, TE Gabe Holmes
NFL Waiver Priority Now Based On 2017 Record
We’re coming up on Week 4 of the NFL season and that means that waiver claim priority will be based on the current league standings instead of last year’s. Of course, waiver priority is based on the inverted NFL standings, which have built in tiebreakers to sort out the many logjams that naturally occur.
Throughout the offseason and the first three weeks of the regular season, the Browns enjoyed top priority thanks to their 1-15 finish last year. Now, we have a brand new pecking order. Here is a full rundown of the current waiver claim priority, which will change from week to week (Twitter links via Field Yates of ESPN.com):
T-1. Bengals
T-1. Browns
T-1. 49ers
4. Giants
5. Chargers
6. Colts
T-7. Texans
T-7. Seahawks
9. Cardinals
10. Jets
11. Saints
12. Bears
13. Dolphins
14. Buccaneers
15. Ravens
T-16. Panthers
T-16. Cowboys
T-16. Rams
T-16. Steelers
T-20. Broncos
T-20. Lions
T-20. Packers
23. Vikings
T-24. Bills
T-24. Jaguars
T-24. Patriots
T-24. Raiders
T-24. Eagles
T-24. Titans
30. Redskins
31. Chiefs
32. Falcons
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/25/17
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted to active roster: TE Ricky Seals-Jones
- Released: LB Philip Wheeler
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LS Taybor Pepper
- Signed off Cardinals‘ practice squad: OL Ulrick John
- Placed on IR: LS Brett Goode
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: WR Matt Hazel
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed off Cowboys‘ practice squad: LB Mark Nzeocha