The Facts: Jerry Jones said the league is investigating Elliott's pattern of behavior rather than domestic violence allegations as it weighs whether to suspend the star running back. The Cowboys owner expects to have Elliott on the field for opening night. "There are a couple of issues that might or might not fall — and that's going to be up to the league to the decide — under the behavioral guidelines," Jones told Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth during NBC's coverage of the Hall of Fame Game. "But in my opinion, we're preparing our team for Zeke and should."

Diehards Line: The NFL has never closed its investigation into domestic abuse allegations made against Elliott by an ex-girlfriend more than a year ago. Jones has maintained all along that evidence shows Elliott was innocent of an incident that led to no arrest or charges against Elliott. But Elliott, 22, has made other unsavory headlines, including visiting a marijuana dispensary during a preseason trip to Seattle last season; exposing a woman’s breast during a St. Patrick’s Day festivity this offseason; and being involved in an altercation at a Dallas bar days before camp. The idea that the league is investigating a pattern of behavior rather than the domestic violence allegations is a new one. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and a four-person independent panel participated in a hearing with Elliott last month, according to a Michele Tafoya report during the game. The four-person panel will make a recommendation to Goodell, who eventually will decide whether to suspend Elliott. Jones, who said last week a decision on Elliott was “imminent,” repeated that declaration Thursday night. A decision is not expected this week as Jones celebrates his Hall of Fame induction, with his party on Friday night and the enshrinement on Saturday night.