The NFL is reportedly planning to seek reimbursement from Jerry Jones for legal fees the league incurred after Jones threatened to sue over Roger Goodell’s contract extension. Not surprisingly, Jones has no intention of going down without a fight.
According to Judy Battista of NFL.com, Jones is planning to contest any mandate Goodell may issue for him to pay what will likely be a sum in the millions.
Jerry Jones is expected to contest paying legal fees league owners want him to pay. If he proceeds, would go to hearing before Goodell.
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) February 27, 2018
As Battista noted, any appeal could be heard by Goodell himself. The commissioner has been able to act as judge, jury and executioner with several cases in the past, and it doesn’t sound like this one will be any different.
A report from the New York Times on Monday indicated that Goodell is planning to fine Jones for conduct detrimental to the league after the Cowboys owner tried to derail the commissioner’s contract extension talks, but it may not be that simple. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk provided more context into the legal side of the dispute, and it turns out it is actually a different rule that gives Goodell the authority to order the Cowboys to pay back legal fees. However, Florio notes that the wording applies to situations where an actual lawsuit was filed, and Jones only threatened one. That could work in Jones’ favor.
Simply put, Jones started a war against Goodell by opposing his contract extension, and the commissioner is going to try to make one of the most powerful owners in sports pay for it. Jones hinted after Goodell’s extension was finalized that he was not done trying to make life difficult for the commissioner, so it’s no surprise the battle rages on.
