NFL owners weigh options to discipline Cowboys’ boss
WASHINGTON — There is strong and increasing sentiment among NFL owners that league leaders should take disciplinary action against Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, although that would not include attempting to strip Jones of his franchise, according to multiple people familiar with the deliberations.
Potential disciplinary measures against Jones if he’s deemed guilty of conduct detrimental to the league could include a fine, a suspension or the loss of a Cowboys’ draft pick or picks.
It is not clear exactly how many of the other owners favour taking action against Jones, but the group that supports such a move is said to include some of the league’s most influential owners, according to those with knowledge of the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the threat of litigation.
Jones is attempting to block completion of negotiations between the owners’ compensation committee and Roger Goodell of a fiveyear contract extension that would keep Goodell in place as NFL commissioner through 2024. Jones told members of the compensation committee that he’d hired attorney David Boies and was prepared to file a lawsuit against Goodell’s extension.
“Roger will be extended and Jerry will be dealt with,” said one of those people familiar with the owners’ sentiments.
Asked which measure the pro-discipline owners favour taking against Jones, the person said: “It depends on how far he goes.”
It is not realistic, however, for league leaders to try to force Jones to sell the Cowboys, that person said.
The Cowboys are estimated by Forbes to be worth more than US$4 billion.