Ezekiel Elliot Running Out of Options for Juking NFL Suspension After Appeal Denied

Posted on: October 31, 2017, 04:00h. 

Last updated on: November 1, 2017, 10:03h.

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Expertise: Commercial Gaming.

Time may be running out for Dallas Cowboy’s running back Ezekiel Elliott after a judge denied his appeal of his six-game suspension on Monday. His impending sidelining has also affected his team’s odds to win the Super Bowl.

The Cowboys began the year as a 10-1 favorite but three loses and Elliott’s future has dropped the team to 20-1. If the second-year player has to carry out his sentence immediately the line might move even lower.

The 22-year-old is now scheduled to miss this Saturday’s game against the 6-2 Kansas City Chiefs. The contest is currently a pick ’em but if the former Ohio State University star is off the field the line could make Dallas an underdog.

Impact Player for Gamblers

When Elliott is in the starting lineup the team has been somewhat kind to bettors. The Cowboys have been favored in all seven of the games they have played and covered four of those times. The over and under is where bettors made their money as the over has hit five of the seven instances.

Last Sunday the team was a 3-point pick on the road against the Washington Redskins and they hurt Las Vegas sportsbooks.

MGM Sportsbook Manager Jeff Stoneback told Vegasinsider.com that they took a loss on Sunday’s match.

“We were a small loser on the day,” he said. “We were wiped out by the Cowboys in a combination of parlay bettors, casino players and sharp bettors. We had a large six-figure wager from a house player and then got lots of late sharp action.”

It looked like Dallas wasn’t going to hit the over but a last minute interception by Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins that was returned for a touchdown gave bettors reason to celebrate.

Hail Mary Possible

The denial of the NFL Player’s Association preliminary injunction on Monday was a blow for Elliott’s chances to play uninterrupted this season. Judge Katherine P. Failla ruled the NFLPA failed to establish the allegations of fundamental unfairness it raised against the league after the suspension was upheld under arbitration.

“The arbitrator gave Mr. Elliott ample opportunity, in terms of both proceedings and evidence, to challenge the commissioner’s decision before the arbitrator; the arbitrator’s ultimate decision against Mr. Elliott does not render these proceedings any less fair,” she wrote in her decision.

One chance he might have to remain eligible would be to have the NFLPA file a writ with the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. But he still might have to miss games while the decision on that was being determined.

Elliott was suspended by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in August following a year-long investigation into domestic violence allegations made by a former girlfriend. He has challenged the decision and his lawyers contend he was never arrested or charged for the incident.