Ezekiel Elliott suspension could be stayed after NFLPA files temporary restraining order

The NFL Players' Association (NFLPA) has filed a request for a temporary restraining order to have Ezekiel Elliott's six-game ban blocked.

The order relates to any suspension of the Dallas Cowboys running-back upheld by NFL arbitrator Harold Henderson at the end of a three-day hearing which wrapped up on Thursday.

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Elliott was banned for six games last month after a year-long investigation into a domestic violence case in Ohio, even though prosecutors had decided not to pursue a case against him after accusations from his former girlfriend Tiffany Thompson.

The NFLPA filing calls for the court to vacate any suspension of Elliott and accuses the league's appeal process of being "fundamentally unfair."

Henderson now has the option to uphold the original verdict, cut the suspension or vacate it completely.

But the NFLPA filing means the Eastern District of Texas court can also decide to stay the suspension if Elliott is told he has to miss any games.

The NFLPA alleges "there was a League-orchestrated conspiracy by senior NFL executives...to hide critical information - which would completely exonerate Elliott."

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Henderson is supposed to rule on the NFL's decision to suspend Elliott "as soon as practicable," according to the league's labour agreement.

The NFL regular season gets underway next Thursday with a clash between the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs, while the Cowboys play their opener at home to the New York Giants on Sunday night.