The NFL is "coping with what amounts to an all-out war" between Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones and Commissioner Roger Goodell, as Jones has "escalated a feud with Goodell, threatening to sue the league and some fellow team owners over negotiations to extend Goodell’s contract," according to sources cited by Ken Belson of the N.Y. TIMES. Sources said that 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." Jones told the owners of the Chiefs, Falcons, Giants, Patriots, Steelers and Texans that "legal papers were drawn up and would be served this Friday if the committee did not scrap or delay its current plans to extend Goodell’s contract." Jones has been a "nonvoting member" of the compensation committee, though he has "fought to have a say." However, his "status as an ad hoc member" of the committee was "revoked" by the six owners following the call. Those owners also "have been speaking to the other 25 owners who are not on the committee to notify them of what Jones had said." Jones "appears intent on holding up Goodell’s contract extension and potentially pushing him out." However, Jones is "in the minority among owners." While some are unhappy with how Goodell "has handled issues related to player conduct and the national anthem controversy, only a few owners are prepared to replace Goodell." The battle within the league is "unusual for an organization that prides itself on order and unanimity and oversees the most popular sport in the country." But the NFL is in the "middle of one of its most tumultuous seasons" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/9).
GATHERING THE TROOPS: ESPN.com's Van Natta & Wickersham noted Jones has "not identified the grounds of such a lawsuit." However, a source said that Jones is "exploring whether a requirement that two-thirds of owners must approve a commissioner's contract could be increased to three-fourths of owners." Another source said that Boies also "might be asked by Jones to produce a report showing the negative economic impact that Goodell's major decisions, including player discipline, have had on clubs." Sources said that Jones is one of "'four or five owners' who believe Goodell should not continue as commissioner." Another source called a half-dozen owners undecided -- the "exact group that Jones wants Boies to target." A league exec asked, "If he amasses 12 or 15 people, how does Roger survive something like that?" A source said that Goodell is "'furious' about Jones' and other owners' insistence that his next contract's compensation should be more performance-based, including incentives that would allow him to be paid at roughly the same level of his current deal," which expires after the '18 season. The source said, "He feels as if the owners have made a lot of money and he should be compensated accordingly. The incentives thing really angers him." But other sources said that Jones has "lost potential support because he has his own candidate to replace Goodell." Those sources said that they "did not know the identity of the candidate." One source said, "Then Jerry will be completely in control of the league. It's turning off some owners" (ESPN.com, 11/8). FS1's Colin Cowherd said, between the suspension of Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott and the anthem controversy, Jones "really strongly believes the league needs new ownership" ("Speak For Yourself," FS1, 11/8).
TAKING MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS: ESPN's Adam Schefter noted Jones "wants to take control of the league." His threat of a lawsuit has "created a showdown" between Goodell and Jones, as well as one between Jones and the compensation committee. Schefter: "Jones is almost being a maverick on this, leading the charge to try to get Goodell out of there or reduce the salary or have some type of effect." The NFL has "done any number of things that I think have upset and bothered and irked (Jones) to the point now where he's taking matters into his own hands" ("Mike & Mike," ESPN Radio, 11/9). FS1's Jason Whitlock noted Jones has a "vision for this league that contradicts or isn't in agreement with the vision of Roger Goodell and the current leadership." Jones is "saying that the compensation committee ... is afraid of change." Whitlock: "Jerry has never been afraid of change, and he has never been afraid of imposing his will and vision on the rest of the league." FS1's Eric Davis said, "He's basically saying, ‘It's a new sheriff in town. I am the voice that's running this direction, it's me and a couple others. The old regime that ran the league is no longer in charge. I am a part of the regime that's in charge'" ("Speak For Yourself," FS1, 11/8). ESPN's Michael Smith said Jones after being inducted into the Pro Football HOF in August is "even more power-hungry and drunk on authority than ever." Smith: "He’s standing up in meetings saying, ‘I’m the ranking owner here,’ and a lot of other owners are tired of hearing that” ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 11/8).
STICK WITH THE PLAN: In DC, Mark Maske cites sources as saying that the compensation committee "intends to ignore Jones’s threat and plans to have the deal with Goodell in place either by the owners’ meeting scheduled to be held in Dallas in December or by the annual league meeting in March." A source said, "He’s going to be extended. Whether it’s in December or in March or whenever it is, he’s going to be extended." Another source said, "The committee has the authority. I don’t think there’s any holes in that" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/9). SI.com's Albert Breer noted one team owner said Jones has "threatened to sue us before, so it’s not like we haven’t been down this road." The owner: "I can think of two other occasions off the top of my head.” However, the owner added that this latest threat from Jones "was a surprise" (SI.com, 11/8). ESPN's Scott Van Pelt said of NFL owners, "These are wealthy, powerful people. There’s considerable ego all around. They have steamrolled their way to unimaginable wealth largely by figuring out how to get along so as not to derail the NFL express. But now one of the most wealthiest and powerful men in the group isn't able to either charm or muscle his way to the outcome he prefers" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 11/9).
NOT ABOUT ELLIOTT SUSPENSION? In Dallas, David Moore cites sources that "insist the structure and compensation of Goodell's proposed contract is the issue" for Jones, not the suspension handed down to Elliott. Jones' concerns "took root months before" Goodell suspended Elliott in August. Jones in March during the NFL Annual Meetings was "vocal with his opposition" and he "reiterated his thoughts to a wide range of associates in the following weeks and months." Moore writes it "would be naive" to think Goodell's handling of the anthem controversy and the Elliott case did not cause Jones to "dig in even more to combat" his contract. However, that "wasn't the spark that led to the current impasse" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 11/9). In Ft. Worth, Clarence Hill Jr. writes there is "no question" that Elliott's suspension "remains bothersome to Jones." Jones has indicated that 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 also called the suspension an "over-correction by Goodell" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 11/9).
TENUOUS PERIOD FOR GOODELL: BLEACHER REPORT's Mike Freeman reported team and league officials are "privately wondering if Goodell may be fired." Even if he does remain, the "past few weeks have left Goodell in the weakest position of his 11-plus-year tenure." Goodell has been "battered and bruised by the drip, drip, drip of bad press," and in Jones he faces "what might be his greatest challenge yet." Despite Jones' "anger -- and his vaunted power -- it's probable Goodell still has the support of a majority of owners" because he "still serves as a valuable heat shield for them." However, it is clear that Goodell's "list of friends is dwindling while his enemies grow" (BLEACHERREPORT.com, 11/8). ESPN's Smith said if Jones "succeeds in gathering enough support, then even if (Goodell's) contract is approved by two-thirds of the owners, how effective can he be if he doesn’t have widespread support?" Smith: "If he has certain owners that lack confidence in him, how can he effectively do his job?” ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 11/8).
NOT SEEKING THE CHAIR: In Ft. Worth, Drew Davison reported Jones has "no ambitions" to become NFL commissioner himself. During his weekly appearance on KRLD-FM, Jones said he takes people suggesting he should seek the position "as a compliment." Jones: "But I am just so appreciative of what I get to do. This, being part of the Cowboys and being first and foremost for the Cowboys, competing, this was my dream life." Davison noted Jones already is "viewed in some circles as the de facto commissioner with his influence in things" like the Rams' relocation to L.A. and the Raiders' upcoming move to Las Vegas (STAR-TELEGRAM.com, 11/8).
