Dallas Cowboys

Ezekiel Elliott is eligible to play once again ... after being granted a temporary restraining order from a New York Southern District Court.

As a result, Zeke's suspension has been put on hold for 14 days -- meaning the Cowboys RB can take the field for the team's next two games against the 49ers and Redskins, barring any further proceedings.

Last Thursday, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the preliminary injunction that prohibited the league from imposing the six-game suspension.

Jerry Jones thinks Ezekiel Elliott is getting a raw deal -- saying the 6-game suspension is simply unfair.

The Dallas Cowboys owner called in to "G-Bag Nation" on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas early Friday morning and said, "I'm very familiar with all of the facts and the details of this case. Very familiar ... Zeke did not get treated fairly here."

As we previously reported, a federal appeals court issued a ruling essentially clearing the way for the NFL to enforce the 6-game suspension it handed to Elliott as a result of a domestic violence investigation.

Elliott was never charged with a crime -- but the NFL's private investigators believe Elliott did, in fact, attack his girlfriend back in 2016. Zeke denies all wrongdoing and Jones clearly believes him.

"Zeke and his team and the Cowboys do not think [the NFL's suspension and punishment process] was done in a fair way. We are trying to get that looked at, and we got a setback yesterday."

If Ezekiel Elliott really wants to help the Dallas Cowboys, he'd abide by one simple rule -- "Don't do dumb sh*t."

That's the advice NFL linebacker Kroy Biermann had for Elliott when we told him all about the RB's suspension going back into effect on Thursday.

Biermann doesn't think the 6-game ban will kill the Cowboys -- but it definitely doesn't help.

3:01 PM PT -- An NFL spokesman provided TMZ Sports the following statement ...

"Earlier today, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the preliminary injunction that prohibited the league from imposing the six-game suspension issued to Ezekiel Elliott for a violation of the Personal Conduct Policy. The Court also directed the district court to dismiss the union’s lawsuit which was filed on Elliott’s behalf."

"As a result, Elliott’s suspension will begin effective immediately. Elliott is eligible to return to the team on Friday, November 24 following the Cowboys' Thursday, November 23 game against the Los Angeles Chargers."

2:56 PM PT -- Elliott's agent Frank Salzano tells us, “We are currently exploring all of our legal options and will make a decision as to what is the best course of action in the next few days. Until that time we have no further comment on the 5th circuit’s decision.”

Bad news for the Dallas Cowboys ... a federal appeals court has ruled Ezekiel Elliott's 6-game suspension is back on.

A federal appeals court made a ruling today ... essentially throwing out a lower court's ruling that allowed Zeke to play.

So, what does it all mean?

For now, the NFL's initial domestic violence punishment stands -- and the league has been cleared to enforce the 6-game suspension.

The Cowboys happen to be on a bye week -- which gives Zeke's team some time to counterpunch and fight the ruling.

The NFL had initially moved to suspend Zeke after a private investigation found he physically abused his girlfriend on multiple occasions.

Important to note, Elliott was never prosecuted for the incidents -- and he maintains his innocence.

But due to the collective bargaining agreement, the NFL believes it doesn't need a conviction to punish a player.

Michael Irvin is PUMPED over Justin Timberlake potentially doing the Super Bowl LII halftime show ... as long as his nipplegate partner stays at home.

Irvin says he was blown away by JT's set at Jerry Jones' Hall of Fame party this year ... and thinks he'd be the perfect pickup for the Big Game.

"It was incredible, man. He did a hell of a job, A HELL OF A JOB," Mike told TMZ Sports.

But when we floated the idea of Janet Jackson joining Justin on stage, you could tell the Cowboys legend wasn't a fan -- "I don't think so."

FYI, Janet was still on the SB blacklist last we checked ... but it seems like JT's in the clear even though he's the one who, well ... ya know.

The real question -- is Irvin down with 'NSYNC?

Out with the old, in with the new -- that's Dannon Yogurt's philosophy after dumping Cam Newton and signing the Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott ... less than a week later.

Dak signed a sponsorship deal with Dannon the same day Cam got the boot last week after making a sexist comment to a female reporter during a press conference. He's reportedly already set to start filming commercials in Dallas this upcoming week.

As we reported ... Cam publicly apologized after Dannon dropped him on Thursday.

Looks like it was too little, too late.

1:45 PM PT -- We've spoken with a rep for Grey Flannel Auctions who tells us they've done their homework authenticating the jersey. They say unique features of the jersey -- rips, stitching pattern, etc. -- have been matched with high-quality photographs from the game.

"We believe photos show this is the same jersey," GFA says.

8:45 AM PT -- Troy Aikman says the jersey is not authentic. The auction house believes it is. We are going to make some calls and try to clear it up.

Start saving up, Cowboys fans ... 'cause Troy Aikman's GAME-WORN Super Bowl XXVII jersey is hitting the auction block ... and it ain't gonna come cheap!!

Aikman's threads -- which he wore during his 4-touchdown MVP performance against the Buffalo Bills -- have remained in original condition (unwashed) since the 1993 game.

If that ain't enough to make you reach for your wallet ... O.J. Simpson did the coin toss, and Michael Jackson performed at halftime.

A rep for Grey Flannel Auctions tells TMZ Sports ... the bidding will start at $5,000, but the final price could end up being more than $100K!!

So yeah, you shoulda started saving like ... 10 years ago.

Bidding starts at the beginning of November.

Seems Donald Trump wasn't too bothered by the Dallas Cowboys' pre-national anthem kneel -- 'cause POTUS says he spoke with Jerry Jones and everything is gravy, baby.

"Spoke to Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys yesterday. Jerry is a winner who knows how to get things done. Players will stand for Country!"

Jerry -- who owns the Cowboys -- locked arms with his players and took a knee BEFORE the American flag was unfurled for "The Star-Spangled Banner" on Monday Night Football.

Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett says the team had talked over their plan for days and the players agreed on how they would demonstrate.

Gotta wonder if this new tweet will have an effect on the team moving forward.

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.