Roger Goodell plans to demand millions of dollars from Jerry Jones, report says
The public feud between Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell could soon take another turn.
The New York Times reported Monday that Goodell plans to "demand millions of dollars" from Jones and to label his actions last year as detrimental to the NFL.
The root of the discipline was Jones’ challenging of Goodell’s contract extension and public opposition to the six-game suspension for Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
Jones will be ordered to pay the legal fees that the league's compensation committee incurred defending itself over Goodell's contract, as well as the legal expenses the NFL spent defending its decision to suspend Elliott.
Goodell, who came to this conclusion after consulting with other NFL owners, will announce the punishment for Jones in the coming weeks according to the report.
A source told ESPN late Monday that the NFL will demand at least $2 million. NFL owners are citing a rule that if an owner brings litigation against other owners, the owner must reimburse them for the legal fees, ESPN reported.
The NFL declined comment Monday. The Cowboys also declined comment through public relations director Rich Dalrymple.
The history of the dispute dates to the league's yearlong investigation of Elliott after a former girlfriend accused him of domestic violence. Elliott was never arrested or charged in the case, but the NFL used statements by the girlfriend along with photos of injuries he was accused of inflicting on her to justify the suspension.
Jones was previously told by Goodell that there would be no discipline for Elliott, sources said.
Sources also said that when Goodell announced a six-game suspension for Elliott on Aug. 11, Jones considered it an unforgivable breach of trust.
Jones supported Elliott as the running back fought the suspension in federal court through the first eight games of the season before eventually losing and having to sit out six games.
Jones also began a public battle against Goodell's contract extension, initially as a non-voting member of the compensation committee.
The Cowboys owner felt Goodell had too much power and wanted the NFL to end its practice of investigating players. He also criticized the commissioner’s handling of the national anthem protests.
Jones was removed from the competition committee after hiring a lawyer and telling the six owners on the committee that he was prepared to take them to court to stop them from finalizing Goodell’s deal.
Jones eventually backed down with the belief that his issues were being heard.
And when Goodell's five-year extension, which could be worth up to $200 million, was finalized during the owners meetings in December in Irving, the two men engaged in an obligatory hug following the closing press conference.
“Do I look like I take it personally? Jerry, do I look like I take it personally?” Goodell said at the time, pointing to Jones. “No is the answer to that question. As I have said before, I think people disagree. People who have the ability to do that within the context of our structure is something that makes us stronger.
“My relationship with Jerry has been great. We don’t always agree. I’m not paid to agree and he’s not paid to agree with me.”
Said Jones: “I hope Roger earns every dime. That means he’s doing a great job, and we’re doing good.”
But now the ongoing feud doesn't seem as if it will end anytime soon.
This story was originally published February 26, 2018 at 3:34 PM with the headline "Roger Goodell plans to demand millions of dollars from Jerry Jones, report says."