Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones yesterday confirmed he is "part of the negotiation on behalf of all the owners" for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's new contract, according to Mike Florio of PRO FOOTBALL TALK. Jones, appearing on Dallas-based KRLD-FM, addressed the report that he was slowing down negotiations, saying you are "not always going to be on the same side of the fence with the Commissioner." Jones said, "When he’s negotiating to extend his contract, he’s negotiating and the league is in a position of negotiating with him. So it shouldn’t surprise anybody that you’re not always on the same side of the ledger." He added, "You could certainly be supportive of Roger Goodell but not necessarily in agreement with terms or if you will structure of his contract. That’s the point of the negotiation" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 9/19). USA TODAY's Nancy Armour writes the owners "could replace Goodell with a commissioner who has a better appreciation for the social issues confronting the NFL" and is more "receptive to working with the players union." Armour: "But why would they want that?" Goodell’s "greatest strength as commissioner is not his marketing ability, his legal smarts or his people skills." It is his "willingness to do the owners’ bidding, and take the blame when things go south." It is a model that has "made them all ridiculously wealthy, Goodell included, and there is zero incentive to mess with it" (USA TODAY, 9/20).
