NFL working toward ousting ’Boys owner
The ongoing feud between Jerry Jones and the NFL has reached new heights.
The NFL sent a letter to Jones’ attorney Wednesday laying the foundation to potentially remove Jones as owner of the Dallas Cowboys due to his ongoing sabotage of commissioner Roger Goodell’s contract extension, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The letter accuses Jones of meddling with Goodell’s contract negotiations and describes the Cowboys owner’s actions as “detrimental to the league’s best interests,” according to the WSJ.
Jones has repeatedly clashed with the NFL’s compensation committee over his attempts to block Goodell’s extension, even threatening to file a lawsuit.
The letter claims that Jones’ “antics, whatever their motivation, are damaging the League,” according to the WSJ.
The NFL’s strong language implies they may consider punishing Jones for his actions under Section 8.13 of Article VIII of the NFL’s Constitution & Bylaws, a possibility multiple owners have already discussed, Pro Football Talk previously reported.
Section 8.13, titled “Disciplinary Power of Commissioner,” gives Goodell the authorization to discipline an owner if he or she “has either violated the Constitution and Bylaws of the League or has been or is guilty of conduct detrimental to the welfare of the League or professional football.”
If the commissioner doesn’t believe the $500,000 fine is “adequate or sufficient” he can choose to “refer the matter to the Executive Committee” to invoke additional punishments, such as:
“Cancellation or forfeiture of the franchise in the League of any member club involved or implicated. If such occurs, the affected franchise shall be sold and disposed of under the provisions of Section 3.8(B) hereof.”
In addition to his feud with Goodell, Jones has also been criticized for his controversial comments regarding players protesting during the national anthem. Jones, a longtime friend of Donald Trump’s, publicly said he would bench any player who refused to stand for the anthem.