Owners rebuke Jones for detrimental conduct
(The Sports Xchange) - Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been informed by other NFL owners via letter that he is engaging in "conduct detrimental to the league's best interests," the New York Times reported on Thursday. The letter was sent to Jones through his attorney, David Boies, on Wednesday, one day after Jones expressed publicly that he had no intention of halting his efforts to prevent NFL commissioner Roger Goodell from receiving a contract extension. Jones has threatened to sue the NFL if the extension is approved by the six-owner compensation committee, headed by Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank. The letter accuses Jones of sabotaging the negotiations in the latest round of the escalating feud between Jones and Goodell. Jones is suspected of sharing outdated documents about negotiations with Goodell to other owners. It was revealed last weekend that Goodell requested a salary of approximately $49.5 million, a private jet and lifetime health insurance of his family last August. Goodell's contract expires in 2018. Also boiling at the surface is Jones' disappointment over the six-game suspension running back Ezekiel Elliott is currently serving for an alleged domestic violence incident. Elliott ended his legal fight on Wednesday with five games remaining. Jones is insisting the percolating feud about Elliott isn't part of his threat to sue the NFL. Regardless, the letter makes it clear other owners are disturbed with Jones' recent actions. "Your client's antics, whatever their motivation, are damaging the league and reflect conduct detrimental to the league's best interests," the letter said, according to the Times. In May, Jones voted in favor of extending Goodell's contract. On his Tuesday radio show, Jones said "well over half" of the owners agreed with his stance of conducting a final vote after the compensation committee finishes the negotiating with Goodell. "With due respect, we urge Mr. Jones to drop his misguided litigation threats and media campaign to undermine the committee's mandate," the letter said. "And we urge Mr. Jones to support the committee's deliberations, not attempt to sabotage them." There has been discussion that the NFL could evoke a clause in which it could remove Jones as Cowboys owner or force a sale. Jones was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August. He has owned the Cowboys since 1989.
