Jerry Jones is being accused of wanting to 'overthrow' Roger Goodell, and NFL owners are stunned by his legal threats
- Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones threatened to serve legal papers if the NFL's competition committee approved a contract extension for Commissioner Roger Goodell.
- Several NFL owners were "shocked" by Jones' threat of legal action, which goes against the grain of how the league usually handles business.
- One owner believes Jones wants to "overthrow" Goodell.
It was reported last week that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones hired a lawyer and threatened NFL owners on the competition committee with legal action if they passed a contract extension for Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Jones has reportedly been unhappy with Goodell on several fronts, ranging from the six-game suspension for Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott over domestic violence allegations, to the league's unwillingness to force players to stand during the national anthem. Jones has also been against the proposed terms for Goodell's contract extension, feeling Goodell makes too much money already and that the proposed incentive-based deal would still pay Goodell a similar amount of money.
According to Sports Illustrated's Peter King, one owner described Jones' mission: "There is little question in my mind that Jerry Jones wants to overthrow Roger Goodell."
According to King, Jones' demands over Goodell's contract have not gone over well with the competition committee. From King:
"I asked what the feelings of the Compensation Committee members were after they got off the call. 'Shocked,' the source said. 'Totally shocked. Emotional. Angry. In disbelief. This was an owner [Jones] who, earlier this year, voted in favor of authorizing the committee to do the deal with Roger. He was still in favor early in August.'"
The competition committee was given specific power to approve a contract extension for Goodell, according to King. A source told King that members of the committee were going back to owners with details of the proposed deal for Goodell to gauge their reactions. Historically, the committee has been given the power to make decisions and get the backing of the rest of the owners.
Jones was made an ad hoc member of the committee earlier this year, but that status was revoked after his legal threats.
Jones may not have the support necessary to veto Goodell's contract, according to ESPN, but King believed that Jones may still get support from other owners. Jones has gone against the grain before and won, and he may be able to do so again.
According to King, the Goodell contract is not yet done, and with Jones getting involved, it may take even longer.