Dallas Cowboys: Jerry Jones labels Ezekiel Elliott 'victim' in domestic violence suspension

Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is still backing his Ezekiel Elliott, calling him a "victim of an overcorrection" by the NFL.

Jones went on 105.3 The Fan's Shan and RJ show on Tuesday morning to talk about his star running back. Elliott recently had his motion denied for a preliminary injunction that reinstated his six-game ban.

"I can show you many positive things that this commissioner, Roger [Goodell], has done, is doing - and I can show you some things that he wants to take back," Jones said. "This is a very example of it. I'm sure he'd like to take back his initial Ray Rice stance and a few others. He's in the process of having tried to correct that, and in doing so, Zeke is a victim of an overcorrection."

Elliott, 22, ranks No. 3 in the NFL with 690 rushing yards. He is tied with Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Leonard Fournette with a league-high six touchdowns.

The 2016 rushing champion and No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft was originally suspended on Aug. 11 for violating the league's personal conduct policy. The NFL claimed, in a letter to Elliott, that it had evidence of Elliott using "physical force" three different times in five days in a Columbus, Ohio apartment, resulting in injuries to the body of former girlfriend Tiffany Thompson, despite the running back never being arrested or charged in the case by the Columbus (Ohio) City Attorney's Office.

"The ruling has more to do with the scope of the commissioner's authority and not really bearing on whether Zeke is guilty of domestic violence or not," Jones said on KRLD-FM. "That's where this stuff gets so convoluted. I am very troubled by the swings that we've had, that in this very thing the judge in this case ratified for the commissioner, but his swing of judgment has been unbelievable from the Ray Rice thing from one to two games all the way up to a six-game suspension when you truly have got a debate."

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"Even this judge said that it shows reasonable people could possibly come down on both sides of this. Well, in our legal system it has to be stronger than that for someone to have done it. We all know that we weren't there to see it, but I do have every point of contention on both sides and in our system in this country Zeke would not have any issue here as to his workplace. I emphasize that because there's a difference in that and law."

"But I will tell you with the knowledge I have, the circumstances aren't treating him fair. Two years ago, this wouldn't be an issue."

Rice, who is now out of football, was suspended for two games by the NFL for a 2014 domestic violence charge against then-fiancé and current wife Janay Palmer in Atlantic City. The ruling came five months after a video surfaced of Rice dragging an unconscious Palmer out of a casino elevator.

Elliott and the NFLPA notified the NFL in August that he was appealing the suspension. He was able to play this season after a New York judge granted him a temporary restraining order through Monday. His six-game ban has been off and on multiple times before the latest result was announced Monday. U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla denied Elliott's request for a temporary injunction.

Elliott is coming off of his two best games of the season. He had 147 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries in a Week 7 win against the San Francisco 49ers. He also had a 72-yard touchdown reception in that victory. Elliott plowed for 150 yards and two scores on 33 carries in Week 8 against the Washington Redskins. He has four consecutive starts with at least 132 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown.

With the suspension back in play, Elliott is scheduled to miss games against the Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Chargers, Redskins and New York Giants. He could return for the Cowboys' Week 15 matchup against the Oakland Raiders.