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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reiterates support for RB Ezekiel Elliott

By The Sports Xchange
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones during the Pro Football Hall of Fame game. File photo by David Richard/UPI
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones during the Pro Football Hall of Fame game. File photo by David Richard/UPI | License Photo

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reiterated his support for Ezekiel Elliott on Sunday in the year-old allegations of domestic violence against the star running back.

Elliott's status with the NFL remains a major question as the league closes an investigation into the alleged 2016 incident in Columbus, Ohio.

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"I found nothing since we were standing here at this time last year," Jones told reporters on the first day of training camp in Oxnard, Calif. "I knew everything in that report. I knew that this time last year.

"I have reviewed everything and there is absolutely nothing -- not one thing -- that had anything to do with domestic violence.

"My opinion is there is not even an issue of 'he said, she said.' There is not even an issue there."

Elliott's accuser issued a statement Saturday in a social media post without mentioning his name.

"Exactly 1 year ago today my life changed forever," she wrote. "Loving someone as much as I did, putting my all in no matter what happened. I finally got the strength to be the strong woman I was and got myself out of a very toxic relationship. Ladies never think you're too in love or too scared to leave because at one point that was me. There's plenty of opportunities out there for you. Love yourself first. Speak up and stop domestic violence."

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The woman accused Elliott of domestic violence on five separate occasions from July 17 to July 22, 2016. Elliott was never arrested or charged and he has maintained his innocence, previously saying the woman was not his girlfriend but a "female acquaintance."

In July 2016, Elliott was questioned by authorities and he was cleared of any legal wrongdoing after the Columbus city prosecutor's office determined there wasn't enough substance to pursue charges after a lengthy investigation. But the NFL began its own probe and declined a status update in January and again in February during Commissioner Roger Goodell's state of the league address in Houston.

Multiple sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter last week that Elliott could face a one- or two-game suspension, but the NFL denied it made a decision on a course of disciplinary action. Schefter tweeted that Elliott is "bracing for a short suspension. Maybe one game, maybe two games."

Elliott, the fourth overall pick in the 2016 draft out of Ohio State, rushed for 1,631 yards and 15 touchdowns as a rookie last season, leading the NFL in rushing yards.

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