Cowboys’ Jones agrees to pay NFL $2 million
Jerry Jones has agreed to pay the NFL more than $2 million in legal fees resulting from two disputes the Dallas Cowboys owner had with the league, a person with direct knowledge of the settlement tells The Associated Press.
The amount to be paid was resolved Wednesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the NFL did not announce details.
Commissioner Roger Goodell held an appeal hearing with Jones on Monday. That came a few days after Goodell assessed the financial penalties for Jones’ lawsuit to overturn the suspension of Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott, and for a lawsuit Jones threatened to stop Goodell’s newly approved contract.
Many owners were consulted on seeking restitution, including members of the finance committee. Some finance committee members are on the compensation committee that was at the center of what became a legal back-and-forth over Goodell’s deal. In other NFL news: • The Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles acquired threetime Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Bennett from the Seattle Seahawks, two people familiar with the trade told the Associated Press. The deal won’t be officially announced until the NFL’s league year opens Wednesday.
Seattle gets wide receiver Marcus Johnson and a fifth-round pick, while Philadelphia also receives a seventh-round pick. Bennett had 8½ sacks last season and 54 in his nine-year career. Bennett, 32, has three years remaining on his contract, with a base salary of just $1.65 million in 2018. That number jumps to $6 million in 2019 and $7.5 million in 2020.
• The Patriots released tight end Martellus Bennett. Bennett was due a $2 million roster bonus next week. His release will save New England about $6 million in salary cap space.