Members of the NFL Compensation Committee have been advised by league counsel not to communicate with Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones, who has threatened litigation over a possible extension of Commissioner Roger Goodell’s contract. A letter from outside counsel Brad Karp dated Nov. 4 read, “We advise you not to communicate with Mr. Jones regarding the negotiations of commissioner Goodell’s employment contract or any other subject addressed by the resolution. Any such communication, even if well intended, could be used by Mr. Jones’ attorneys against the league or against you individually and may compromise our defense against any such litigation.”
The resolution referred to by Karp appears to be one from May, in which by a 32-0 vote, NFL owners delegated the authority to extend Goodell to the compensation committee. The committee is comprised of the Falcons’ Arthur Blank, Texans’ Bob McNair, Giants’ John Mara, Chiefs’ Clark Hunt, Steelers’ Art Rooney II and Patriots’ Bob Kraft. The committee was ready to extend Goodell in late August until Hurricane Harvey hit Houston and the league wanted to wait.
