Elliott admits he likes to party, did drugs at Ohio State in transcripts

With Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott taking the NFL to federal court over the league’s decision to suspend him six games for violating the personal conduct policy, the NFL investigation and arbitration transcripts have become public record.

And part of that is painting Elliott in an unfavorable light.

In an arbitration transcript, Elliott acknowledged that he likes to party, get drunk and admitted to using drugs at Ohio State.

Here’s an exchange between Elliott and NFL lawyer Daniel Nash:

Nash: And I think you said you liked her [ex girlfriend Tiffany Thompson] because she liked to party, drink and do drugs?

Elliott: Yes.

Nash: You liked to do that, too?

Elliott: I do like to party.

Nash: And like to get drunk?

Elliott: Yes.

Nash: You like to do drugs?

Elliott: I did in college.

A text exchange between Elliott and Thompson regarding drug use became public after the Columbus, Ohio, city prosecutor’s office declined to pursue domestic violence charges in September 2016.

Thompson repeated that in interviews she had with league investigators, stating that she witnessed Elliott use marijuana and cocaine in their time together.

Elliott has never been suspended for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. But a failed drug test is not required for the NFL to put a player into the intervention stage of the league’s substance abuse program under the collective bargaining agreement.

The NFL and the NFL players’ association have agreed to appoint medical advisers whether players should be placed in the “program” based on “behavior.”

This story was originally published September 1, 2017 at 6:16 PM with the headline "Elliott admits he likes to party, did drugs at Ohio State in transcripts."