Ezekiel Elliott Suspended

Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboy's All-Pro running back, has been suspended for the first six games of the upcoming season for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. Elliott was found by the NFL's investigation to be guilty of assaulting his significant other, leaving her battered and bruised last July. While he has the option to appeal, and it appears that he will, it is highly unlikely that this ruling will be overturned.

Six games is a severe punishment for certain, but my biggest gripe with this ruling is the lack of consistent punishment in cases of domestic violence. Ray Rice infamously knocked out his wife in an elevator and got a slap on the wrist, receiving a two-game suspension. Then last year, right around this time, Josh Brown admitted to beating his wife and received a one-game ban. Now Ezekiel Elliott gets twice the penalty that Brown and Rice got combined? That just doesn't seem to add up.

Maybe the NFL has learned from its past and this is them really cracking down. Physical violence, particularly against women, is shameful. The Ray Rice's, Josh Brown's, and now Ezekiel Elliott's of the world will have to live with that scarlet letter for the rest of their lives, and perhaps that is worse than any suspension could ever be.