Earlier today, the NFL's executive vice president of communications, Joe Lockhart, released a statement regarding the National Football League Player Association and reports of them "spreading derogatory information to the media" about Tiffany Thompson, the victim in Elliott's case.
The "derogatory information" will reportedly play a key role in Ezekiel Elliott's appeal, which he officially filed yesterday, as the NFLPA plans to argue the credibility of Thompson, citing quotes and text message she sent, including her willingness to blackmail the Cowboys running back.
In the 160-page report prepared by NFL investigators, Thompson reportedly admitted to registering an email address titled “ezekielelliott sex vids” in August 2016. Text messages also show that Thompson openly discussed blackmailing Elliott with a sex tape.
According to Yahoo Sports, the exact exchange was noted as Exhibit 74 in the NFL’s appendix accompanying the 160-page report. It reads,
[Thompson]: What if I sold mine and Ezekiel’s sex videos
[Friend]: We’d all be millionaires
[Friend]: We could black mail him w that
[Thompson]: I want to bro
[Friend]: Let’s do it
[Thompson]: Scared
[Friend]: Shit
[Friend]: Id be like look give me 10k or I’ll just sell our sex videos for the same amount flat
[Friend]: Me and my friends tryna go on vacation and get boob jobs
(the report notes a pair of blank texts)
[Thompson]: 10k Bitch I want 20k
[Thompson]: Go big or go home
[Friend]: That’s fine too
Of course, none of this exonerates Elliott for the domestic violence of which he is accused.
However, according to Yahoo Sports, "with Thompson being the NFL’s only firsthand witness to the events she is alleging, a source close to Elliott said his lawyers and the NFLPA have seized upon the exchange to question aspects of motive and credibility in an appeal filed on Tuesday."
Check out the NFLPA's response to the official statement released by the NFL earlier today.