Jerry Jones takes hard stance against anthem kneeling, will require Cowboys stand
Whatever Roger Goodell says, you can just about be sure that Jerry Jones will say the opposite.
Remember last season’s mano a mano battle over running back Ezekiel Elliott’s suspension, and Jones trying to oust the commish?
This one doesn’t seem as personal, but it’s a case of the Cowboys owner ignoring the rules, and doing what he wants — again.
Last week, the league and the NFL Players Association — realizing that there was simply too much dialogue and baggage on either side of the kneeling during the national anthem battle — issued a joint statement saying there would be “no new rules relating to the anthem will be issued or enforced for the next several weeks” while both sides continue to seek a fair solution for everyone.
“The NFL and NFLPA, through recent discussions, have been working on a resolution to the anthem issue,” the joint statement said. “In order to allow this constructive dialogue to continue, we have come to a standstill agreement on the NFLPA’s grievance and on the NFL’s anthem policy.
That seems pretty clear; both sides would continue to work, and do so out of the spotlight.
Or not.
First, it was Miami owner Stephen Ross, who indicated that players who chose not to stand for the anthem could be fined or suspended. Once that was leaked, Ross nearly broke his ankle backtracking.
Statement from Owner Stephen Ross pic.twitter.com/cl1mS11HH0
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) July 20, 2018
In his tweet, Ross referred to the threatened suspensions and fine as a “one-line sentence” that was nothing more than a “placeholder.”
At the NFL owners’ meetings in Oxnard, California, there was no ambiguity when Jones was asked if he’d support players who chose to kneel or stay in the locker room during the anthem.
“Our policy is that you stand at the anthem, toe on the line,” Jones said.
Jones said President Donald Trump’s continuous mentions of the issue are actually hurting the process.
“His interest in what we’re doing is problematic, from my chair, and I would say in general the owners’ chair,” Jones said. “It’s unprecedented, if you really think about it. But like the very game itself, that’s the way it is and we’ll deal with it.
“We feel strongly about how we deal with it and we’ll do so accordingly. But, yes, I, like everybody, would like for it to go away.”
San Francisco defensive back Richard Sherman may be the only person who’s actually encouraged by the progress the two sides have made
“I think some thought it was short-sighted, but they [NFL] felt like they had to get something out, and I think they should be commended for being open to hearing what the players have to say about it and moving in that way,” Sherman told reporters.
But in Jerry’s world, make no mistake about where the Cowboys stand.
“Obviously I wouldn’t dare speak for any of the other owners, much less in general about 31 other owners,” Jones said. “But as far as the Dallas Cowboys are concerned, you know where I stand. Our team knows where I stand on the issue, and that’s where we are.”
It remains to be seen if Goodell has any official response to Jones. But it’s safe to assume this wasn’t what he planned when saying the two sides were hitting a pause button.
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