No time for pleasantries: Jerry Jones, Arthur Blank avoid each other

Jerry Jones and Arthur Blank had plenty of opportunities to exchange pleasantries before the Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons game.

Each strolled the field during pregame warm-ups, but didn’t bother saying hello or shaking hands with each other.

According to a Cowboys staffer, it’s customary for the home owner to walk across the field and greet the visiting owner.

Jones made himself visible and available throughout pre-game warmups, walking the sideline in front of the Cowboys bench area. But Blank, who spent much of the time before the game in the middle of the field, didn’t make an attempt to move toward Jones on the Cowboys sideline.

It’s not too surprising, though, considering Jones and Blank are at odds over commissioner Roger Goodell’s contract extension.

Blank removed Jones as an “ad hoc” member of the compensation committee after Jones threatened to sue the league over a possible extension for Goodell. Jones contends that Blank has misled owners about having the unanimous approval of the six-man committee to extend Goodell.

Jones has an issue with the contract extension and the power of the commissioner.

Per a source, the time to address the power of the commissioner and ensure that the owners have some sway in his decision making is during the hiring and extension process.

Goodell will be the commissioner the next 18 months, so those in Jones’ camp believe there is no reason to rush the extension.

This story was originally published November 12, 2017 at 3:30 PM with the headline "No time for pleasantries: Jerry Jones, Arthur Blank avoid each other."