ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 10: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys prepares to take on the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

The National Football League will always be out to protect the shield, as any company would likely do at all costs. But the NFL’s desire to protect its brand came ahead of doing what was fair in its handling of Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, according to Elliott’s lawyers representing him in his battle against the league.

As the legal battle between Elliott and the NFL continues, Elliott’s lawyers issued a statement slamming the NFL for worrying about public relations blowback if they did not suspend Elliott following his accusation of a sexual assault. The statement was shared by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk;

“The NFL’s latest legal maneuvering appears to be indicative of a league with an agenda: Trying to navigate a public relations crisis rather than focus on fairness and fact finding,” lawyers Frank Salzano and Scott Rosenblum said in a statement. “The only conclusion that can be drawn is that the NFL believes it can write its own rules and will stop at nothing to further its agenda of enforcing its unfounded assertions regarding Mr. Elliott. Most recently this would include the NFL seeking an expedited hearing on staying the preliminary injunction by frivolously arguing that the NFL is somehow ‘irreparably harmed’ by Elliott playing while the Courts decide whether the investigation and appeal was fundamentally unfair. Mr. Elliott and his team will continue to zealously oppose any of the NFL’s court filings.”

Elliott was initially suspended for six games by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, but a federal court in Texas issued a restraining order for Elliott, pushing back the suspension and paving a path for Elliott to play football until a resolution could be reached to this ongoing saga. Elliott played in the season opener for the Cowboys Sunday night and is slated to play again in Week 2 this weekend.

The NFL contends the Texas judge had no jurisdiction in the case, as the suspension was permitted through the league’s collective bargaining agreement with the NFLPA. However, Elliott and the NFLPA contend the league’s investigation into the Cowboys star was faulty and flimsy enough to second-guess the result, thus involving the courts as they see fit.

While Elliott may play this weekend, the NFL is pushing to have a legal injunction granted that would see Elliott’s suspension begin in Week 3. The NFL is all in on seeing Elliott sit for six games, sooner or later, but Elliott’s massive legal team is prepared to do whatever it takes to make sure that does not happen.

[Pro Football Talk]

About Kevin McGuire

Contributor to Athlon Sports and The Comeback. Previously contributed to NBCSports.com. Host of the Locked On Nittany Lions Podcast. FWAA member and Philadelphia-area resident.