Dallas Cowboys

John McCain tells TMZ Sports he won't let his seething hatred for the Dallas Cowboys affect his view on freedom of expression.

The Arizona senator is famously a huge sports fan -- so, with the political and sports worlds colliding when the Cowboys played his AZ Cardinals on Monday Night Football, we asked for his opinion.

"I've always hated the Dallas Cowboys and will continue to do so to this day," McCain said.

But when we asked about Jerry Jones taking a knee with his players before the anthem, McCain said -- "That's their right to do what they want as citizens."

The national debate over whether NFL players should kneel for the National Anthem bled into Monday night after Donald Trump's "son of a bitch" comments ... 'cause Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys just took a knee (kinda).

Jerry and the entire Cowboys organization -- including the players -- knelt down on one knee while locking arms before the start of the National Anthem, but then stood up once the song was about to start. The Cardinals stood arm-locked the whole time.

It's interesting ... each team seems to have had different reactions to Trump's remarks from over the weekend, when he suggested owners should fire players who kneel in protest.

Looks like Jerry's down to ... well, get down.

Big win for Ezekiel Elliott -- who was just granted a preliminary injunction from a federal judge in Texas ... which blocks the NFL from imposing his 6-game suspension ... at least for now.

What does it mean -- Zeke will likely play the entire NFL season without missing a single game.

The NFL Player's Association had filed the lawsuit on behalf of Elliott, claiming the Dallas Cowboys star did not get a fair hearing in front of the arbitrator in his appeal of the domestic violence punishment.

The judge agreed ... saying there was a "cloud of fundamental unfairness" in the proceedings. The judge didn't think it was fair for Elliott to be punished with that cloud looming.

The judge points out two "gross errors" in the arbitration -- which were the decision to not include the accuser, Tiffany Thompson, and NFL commish, Roger Goodell, as witnesses.

So, what happens next?

The NFL will likely file an emergency motion challenging the court's ruling. The chances the NFL wins that are slim.

Elliott and the NFLPA now have the green light to continue the legal fight to have the 6-game suspension voided altogether ... which is their ultimate goal.

That process could entail a huge, lengthy trial that could take months and months -- and until the case is settled and a judge rules on the validity of the suspension once and for all, Zeke gets to play.

Ezekiel Elliott has officially taken an L with his domestic violence appeal ... as the NFL upheld the RB's 6-game suspension Tuesday following an arbitration hearing at the league's NYC headquarters.

NFL-appointed arbitrator, Harold Henderson, handed down the verdict ... after hearing Elliott's case from a team led by Jeffrey Kessler -- the lawyer who's repped the NFLPA on several landmark appeals including DeflateGate.

Zeke also gave his side of the story while under oath ... according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport.

The league suspended Elliott earlier this month after finding "substantial evidence" he engaged in physical violence against his then-girlfriend, Tiffany Thompson -- a claim the Cowboys superstar has adamantly denied.

Elliott's team was reportedly prepared for this outcome ... as Henderson denied a request to have Thompson testify at the appeal proceeding. Henderson also barred the introduction of notes and materials gathered in the NFL's interviews with Thompson.

Zeke's legal team says, "We are extremely disappointed with Mr. Henderson's inability to navigate through league politics, and follow the evidence and, most importantly, his conscience." Next step is federal court, where Cowboys star will ask a judge to reduce his suspension.

No ruling yet ... but it's close.

The NFL Player's Association has said the arbitrator overseeing Ezekiel Elliott's appeal of his 6-game suspension was trying to issue his decision by end of business day on Tuesday -- but so far, nothing yet.

The operative word in that sentence is "trying" -- we're told the arbitrator has a lot of material to comb through and wants to be thorough ... he doesn't want to rush out a decision.

Meanwhile, Ezekiel appeared in a courtroom in Sherman, Texas where he filed documents in federal court asking for a restraining order against the NFL, barring the league from enforcing punishment stemming from the domestic violence investigation.

Eric Dickerson is convinced Ezekiel Elliott is innocent -- and says the NFL overstepped by punishing the Dallas Cowboys star after prosecutors declined to press charges in his domestic violence case.

The NFL Hall of Famer didn't mince words at the Malibu Chili Cook-Off this weekend when talking about the situation to TMZ Sports -- "I think they shoulda stayed out of it. The NFL should have stayed out of it."

Dickerson says if Zeke DID physically abuse his girlfriend, the punishment is still too harsh -- he feels a 3-game suspension would have been more appropriate.

But the bigger issue ... Dickerson says he doesn't think Zeke committed a crime or did ANYTHING warranting a punishment.

The NFL has filed 2 scathing new legal documents -- seeking to block Ezekiel Elliott and the NFL Player's Association from challenging the league's 6 game suspension ... and ripping the RB along the way.

The 1st document, filed in federal court in Texas, the NFL asks the judge to reject the NFLPA's request to throw out whatever punishment the arbitrator hands out to the Cowboys star.

Since the arbitrator hasn't ruled yet, the NFL says in the court docs, "the NFLPA lacks standing to vacate a hypothetical award." The league calls the NFLPA's motion an "utter waste of judicial resources."

In the 2nd document, also filed in federal court in Texas, the NFL is again essentially trying to block the imposition of the arbitrator's ruling.

This time, the NFL fires back against Elliott's claim that he has suffered "reputational harm" from the league's investigation and punishment.

"To the extent Elliott has suffered reputational harm, that harm is due to his own actions, including the well-publicized actions that led [the accuser] to call the Columbus Police Dept."

The league continued, "The NFLPA's concerns about reputational harm ring especially hollow given the avalanche of publicity the NFLPA engendered by filing the damning details of Elliott's misconduct on a public document."

The federal court judge has yet to rule. Ditto for the arbitrator overseeing Elliott's appeal.

Post Malone is exonerating Ezekiel Elliott with his suspension appeal ongoing -- saying the Dallas Cowboys RB "did NOTHING wrong" and shouldn't have to sit out.

"Free Zeke -- you did nothing wrong, Zeke," Post told TMZ Sports outside TAO in Vegas.

Post is a HUGE Cowboys fan -- and clearly thinks the NFL's gotta ease up on his 6-game ban for allegedly attacking his ex-girlfriend.

Even if they don't, the rapper told us his "Boys are goin' ALL THE WAY this year" ... as long as they don't toke up too much during the season.

But don't get it twisted -- Post is 100% down with weed being legal -- in the NFL and in general.

Forget Skittles, the one thing Marshawn Lynch needs before a game is big 'ol squeeze from his mom ... and he got it in Dallas!

Mama Lynch was on the field while the Raiders were warming up to play the Cowboys on Saturday ... and decided to show a little love to his biggest fan in the world.

It's a sweet moment -- and the least scary we've ever seen him on the football field!

BTW, good form from Mama Lynch ... gotta wrap up!

Ezekiel Elliott ain't letting his off the field issues keep him from having a good time -- the embattled running back partied on a Texas lake the day after the Cowboys' 2nd preseason game.

Ezekiel Elliott beat up his girlfriend 3 times in the same week ... and there are photos that prove it ... this according to the NFL. Elliott is facing a 6 game suspension with these charges.

The league laid out its case against Elliott in a letter to the Dallas Cowboys running back detailing a week of violence and terror against Tiffany Thompson that began on July 17, 2016.

INCIDENT #1

On July 17, the NFL says Elliott attacked Thompson at the Canvasback Lane apartments in Columbus, Ohio.

"You used physical force that caused injuries to Ms. Thompson's arms, neck and shoulders."

INCIDENT #2

On July 19, the NFL says there was another altercation at the Canvasback Lane apartments.

"You used physical force that caused injuries to Ms. Thompson's face, arms, wrists and hands."

INCIDENT #3

On July 21, the NFL says there was a 3rd incident at the Canvasback Lane apartments.

"You used physical force that caused injuries to Ms. Thompson's face, neck, arms knee and hips."

The league says it went to prosecutors to find out why Elliott was not charged with a crime. The NFL was told, "We never concluded that she was lying to us ... we generally believed her for all of the incidents."

Prosecutors had previously said there was "conflicting and inconsistent information across all incidents, resulting in concern regarding the sufficiency of the evidence to support the filing of criminal charges."

The standard for prosecution is much higher than the standard for the NFL to mete out discipline.

Ezekiel Elliott has been suspended for 6 games following the NFL's yearlong domestic violence investigation into the Dallas Cowboys star, the league confirms.

The league says the investigation found "substantial and persuasive evidence" that Zeke engaged in physical violence against the accuser.

The league also told Elliott if he violates league policy ever again he could possibly be BANNED from the NFL for life.

Zeke was accused of assaulting his ex-girlfriend 5 different times in 6 days back in July 2016.

Cops investigated the allegations but decided there wasn't enough evidence to prosecute.

The NFL conducted its own investigation and apparently felt there was enough evidence to suspend him.

The NFL issued a statement saying, "Over the course of the last year, the league conducted an extensive investigation. League investigators interviewed more than a dozen witnesses, including Ms. Tiffany Thompson, who had alleged multiple instances of physical violence in July 2016, and Mr. Elliott."

"The league also consulted with medical experts. League investigators examined all available evidence, including photographic and digital evidence, thousands of text messages and other records of electronic communications."

The NFL says Roger Goodell consulted with 4 external advisors before deciding punishment.

Elliott denied any wrongdoing -- but the accuser has maintained he attacked her. In fact, she put up a statement last month doubling down on the allegations against Zeke and saying people like her need to speak up and stop domestic violence.

Elliott's made headlines for all the wrong reasons this offseason -- he was caught exposing a woman's bare breast at a St. Patrick's Day parade and was accused of attacking a man in a Dallas bar in July.

Adam Schefter says the NFL factored in the St. Patrick's Day incident when meting out punishment.

Zeke wasn't arrested or charged with any crime for either incident ... but it's been reported the league would take these incidents into consideration when determining his punishment.

The news will undoubtedly come as a shock to Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones, who just told us THIS WEEK that Zeke would NOT be suspended.

One less problem for the Dallas Cowboys ...

Rookie cornerback Jourdan Lewis was just found not guilty of attacking his then-girlfriend after a 2-day domestic violence trial.

The 3rd round draft pick had been charged with domestic violence after allegedly roughing up his then-girlfriend at their apartment in Ann Arbor on March 15.

Lewis' girlfriend told cops that the U of M cornerback threw pillows at her during a fight about the electricity bill and then locked himself in a closet for a while.

She said he then dragged her across the living room floor and grabbed her by the throat.

Lewis told cops she had been hitting him in the face, so he picked her up by the shoulders to try to get out of the room.

The case went to trial and a jury found him not guilty. After court, Lewis told the media, "I'm elated."

Lewis' attorney John Shea says, "It’s always gratifying to represent someone that you believe in and have the jury tell me I’m right."

"We’re just happy it came out the way it did. He’s letting it sink in. He’s been under this cloud for awhile and he’ll need some time to put it behind him but this is a good first start."

Jason Garrett says the Cowboys are standing by their decision to cut Lucky Whitehead ... despite cops in Virginia admitting they incorrectly arrested the wrong guy for shoplifting in June.

Garrett addressed the Whitehead drama at training camp on Tuesday ... saying the team has no intention of bringing the kick return specialist back.

"In evaluating the particular situation, and the context of that situation, we felt like we made a decision in regards to Lucky that was right for our team. And we stand by that decision."

Garrett initially pulled a Marshawn Lynch and repeated the same answer to every Lucky-related question, saying "We made a decision that we thought was in the best interest of the Dallas Cowboys. We stand by it and we're moving on."

12:09 PM PT -- Prince William County PD has released a statement about the incident --

"On June 22 around 1:30AM, officers responded to the WAWA located at 2051 Daniel Start Sq in Woodbridge to investigate a larceny in progress.

An employee reported to police that a man ran out of the store without paying for some merchandise. When officers arrived, they located the man in the parking lot.

Following the investigation, the accused, identified as Rodney Darnell Whitehead - age 25, was charged with petit larceny and released on a court summons."

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Lucky Whitehead was arrested in Virginia in June for shoplifting -- and now a warrant has been issued for his arrest ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The 25-year-old was busted in Prince William County, VA on June 22 for shoplifting/petit larceny under $200. We're told Whitehead allegedly took stuff from a convenience store.

He was ordered to appear in court on July 6, but according to court records he didn't show up -- so a warrant was issued for his arrest. He's since been charged for failure to appear.

We reached out to Whitehead's rep -- so far, no word back.

FYI, Whitehead was undrafted but signed a 3-year $1.5 million contract with the team in 2015.

Whitehead isn't the first Cowboys player to be accused of shoplifting -- ex-Dallas running back Joseph Randle was busted stealing cologne and mens underwear from a Texas department store in 2014.

Jerry Jones has spoken out following Ezekiel Elliott's alleged bar fight ... saying Zeke's got to do a better job dealing with the "rock star" lifestyle.

The Dallas Cowboys owner didn't address the incident ... but made it clear the superstar RB needs to be more careful cause the cameras are always rollin'.

"Because of his style and personality, it’s like a rock star wherever he goes in terms of attention,” Jones told reporters.

"Certainly Zeke is evolving and being subject to needing to learn how to deal with the media and social media the way it is today. ... We want to continue (to) educate ourselves as to how behavior, how it can be portrayed."

Basically, ya gotta watch every step you take.

FYI, the Dallas PD's still investigating the incident ... but hasn't named any suspects.

TMZ Sports obtained two videos of the victim from witnesses who told us Zeke threw a punch -- injuring another bar patron.