Jerry Jones has been outspoken about how excessive he believes Ezekiel Elliott’s suspension was since Roger Goodell handed it down, and the Dallas Cowboys owner is not changing his stance with the league looking to hit his wallet hard.
While speaking with reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine over the weekend, Jones was asked if Elliott has learned anything from the suspension and some of the mistakes the running back made last offseason. The 75-year-old took the opportunity to once again voice how unfair he thinks the six-game ban was.
“He’s paid the most level of punishment that I’ve seen for what he did,” Jones said, via Kate Hairopoulos of the Dallas Morning News. “So he’s done that. That would make any of us cognizant of the fact that you have serious accountability for any situation that you get into.
“…And it’s costly, and it’s certainly cost him. It’s cost him. So he’s smart, he is smart. And so we should have every reason to believe that that will be a constant reminder when you’re making decisions. I think that’s the case.”
It was originally reported that Goodell planned to fine Jones millions of dollars, but in reality the league and its owners will be seeking to have Jones reimburse them for legal fees they incurred as a result of Elliott’s appeal and the Cowboys publicly supporting Elliott. Jones, of course, plans to contest the fine (or whatever you want to call it).
The Cowboys say they are not planning to watch Elliott more closely this offseason, so it’s no surprise that Jones is still calling more attention to the suspension than the mistakes the former Ohio State star has made.
