Report: Angry Jones hires lawyer, threatens lawsuit to block Goodell extension

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has done little to hide his anger with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell over the suspension of star running back Ezekiel Elliott.

Elliott was suspended Aug. 11 for violating the league's personal conduct policy for allegedly committing domestic violence against former girlfriend Tiffany Thompson.

Jones believes he was lied to by Goodell who told him Elliott, who was never charged or arrested in the case, would face no suspension and considers it an unforgivable breach of trust, according to a source.

Apparently, the weeks that have gone by nor the league's handling of the national anthem protests have done little to temper Jones' acrimony with Goodell.

According to a source, that is not at the root of Jones’ threat to sue the league and some league owners in order block a planned contract extension for Goodell, which was first reported by the New York Times on Thursday.

Jones told the six owners on the league's compensation committee last week that he had hired David Boies, the high-profile lawyer under fire in the Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment case, according to the New York Times.

Jones could not be reached for comment. The Dallas Cowboys declined to comment.

As of Wednesday, the owners have not been sued.

According to a source with knowledge of the situation, Jones’ points of contention with the Goodell extension are the compensation package and structure of the contract, not the Elliott breach of trust by Goodell.

Goodell's contract expires at the end of the 2018 season.

And while Jones is not officially on the NFL's six-man compensation committee which is working on the Goodell contract, as the most powerful and influential owner in the league he injected himself as an unofficial seventh member.

Jones was told that his input on the committee was no longer needed.

Jones is not alone in his opposition of the Goodell contract and he viewed his voice on the compensation committee as a representation of the other 26 owners so six people wouldn’t be charged with making such an important decision for the entire league, according to a source.

Jones is said to have a lot of support from other owners who share his view and sentiment regarding the Goodell contract.

But there is also no question that Elliott's six-game suspension, which has turned into a roller coaster battle in federal court, remains bothersome to Jones.

Jones has consistently contended that Elliott has done nothing to be suspended for in the eyes of the legal system and that the NFL had no credible reason to suspend him.

Jones said the suspension was the result of Goodell reacting to public perception regarding past mistakes by the league in how it handled previous domestic violence cases.

Jones called the Elliott suspension an over-correction by Goodell.

This story was originally published November 8, 2017 at 3:41 PM with the headline "Report: Angry Jones hires lawyer, threatens lawsuit to block Goodell extension."