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The NFL suspended Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott six games Friday for violating the league's personal-conduct policy, a source informed of the situation told NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.

The ruling comes after the NFL's year-long investigation into multiple incidents involving Elliott, including domestic violence accusations made against him by a woman who identified herself as his former girlfriend to authorities.

Elliott, 22, has denied the allegations and has the right to appeal the NFL's decision. He has three days to appeal. If the six-game suspension stands, Elliott would be eligible to make his season debut Oct. 29 against the Washington Redskins.

ESPN first reported the development.

The woman told police Elliott assaulted her on five separate occasions over the course of a week in July 2016, according to the Columbus (Ohio) City Attorney's Office. He was never arrested and prosecutors declined to charge Elliott, citing conflicting and inconsistent information.

Under the terms of the NFL's personal conduct policy, players found by the league to have committed domestic violence are subject to "a baseline suspension without pay of six games" regardless of whether "the conduct does not result in a criminal conviction."

The policy states: "In cases where a player is not charged with a crime, or is charged but not convicted, he may still be found to have violated the policy if the credible evidence establishes that he engaged in conduct prohibited by this Personal Conduct Policy."

Robert S. Tobias, principal assistant city attorney in Columbus, stated in an email to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero last year he believed "there were a series of interactions between Mr. Elliott and [his accuser] where violence occurred."

"... Given the totality of the circumstances, I could not firmly conclude exactly what happened," Tobias wrote in October. "Saying something happened versus having sufficient evidence to criminally charge someone are two completely different things."

The NFL launched its investigation soon after Elliott's ex-girlfriend filed a police report last summer. League investigators first interviewed Elliott in October and met with him again last month. Elliott and the NFL Players Association turned over phone records and documents related to the case to the league in May.

It wasn't the only incident the NFL looked into involving Elliott. The same woman called police on Elliott in Feb. 2016 in Florida, where the former Ohio State star was training prior to the NFL Scouting Combine, sources with knowledge of the situation told Pelissero. She told police she suffered shoulder pain when Elliott pushed her up against a wall. Elliott wasn't arrested or charged.

In March of this year, Elliott was seen in videos and photos pulling down a woman's shirt and exposing her breast on the roof of a Dallas bar during a St. Patrick's Day parade. Last month, Elliott was involved in an incident at another Dallas bar that initially sparked an assault investigation before police suspended their probe. That incident, however, was not part of the NFL's completed probe, a source with knowledge of the investigation told Rapoport and Pelissero.

Elliott is in his second season with the Cowboys after rushing for 1,631 yards and 15 touchdowns en route to earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2016.

Cactus Jack wrote:And it begins...

bwgood77 wrote:There will probably be as many stories about how this impacts fantasy football rankings than the actual story itself.

Otis Driftwood wrote:

bwgood77 wrote:There will probably be as many stories about how this impacts fantasy football rankings than the actual story itself.

Yep. On sites where that is a factor (like my home page), it's already started.

Ayatollah wrote:From the Giants point of view

Otherwise I find it too much because the police don't have much evidence as it seems...

Otis Driftwood wrote:

bwgood77 wrote:There will probably be as many stories about how this impacts fantasy football rankings than the actual story itself.

Yep. On sites where that is a factor (like my home page), it's already started.

Sammy Watkins' impact increased today though...

Otis Driftwood wrote:Clearly, the Columbus Police Department and the District Attorney's office are incompetent as hell.

bmurph128 wrote:

Otis Driftwood wrote:Clearly, the Columbus Police Department and the District Attorney's office are incompetent as hell.

It's unfortunate, but star athletes always seem to get a big of leeway, regardless of where they play.

Although TBH, I don't even remember hearing about this and I live in Columbus. In that article they say that they didn't have sufficient evidence to charge him, but stated that something clearly happened. Seems logical to me. And the NFL has made it clear that even if they're not charged they can be suspended. Zeke has no one to blame but himself here.

Otis Driftwood wrote:

bmurph128 wrote:

Otis Driftwood wrote:Clearly, the Columbus Police Department and the District Attorney's office are incompetent as hell.

It's unfortunate, but star athletes always seem to get a big of leeway, regardless of where they play.

Although TBH, I don't even remember hearing about this and I live in Columbus. In that article they say that they didn't have sufficient evidence to charge him, but stated that something clearly happened. Seems logical to me. And the NFL has made it clear that even if they're not charged they can be suspended. Zeke has no one to blame but himself here.

Just finished listening to the local Cowboys beat writer (David Moore - one of the best in the business). The NFL was able to validate via metadata dates the pictures of the woman injuries were taken which concurred with her testimony. That along with the St. Patrick's Day incident along with the bar incident last month...

You will get no argument from me that Zeke has no one to blame but the guy in the mirror he sees every morning. He's placed himself in situations where he is compromised. But - the Columbus Prosecutors and Police have some explaining to do also.

bleu wrote:LMAO, my buddy put down $100 on Zeke to lead the league in rushing yards this season. Guess that's not happening!

Cactus Jack wrote:I'm worried about JerseyJinx. He's been MIA since the news broke.

Otis Driftwood wrote:

Cactus Jack wrote:I'm worried about JerseyJinx. He's been MIA since the news broke.

McFadden and Morris will hold the fort down. Now if Tyron Smith's back is more serious than reported... that's different.

CDior510 wrote:As a Giants fan "Na Na Na Na Na NA"
As a football fan I really wanted to see how him and Dak attacked the sophomore slump curse, but I guess it's just 7 games he'll have more opportunities, but if true I don't know what to say about his character. Well looks like the 2nd stringer better back up or Dak is really going to have to get deep into the playbook and throw more.