Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft exchanged words during Tuesday’s NFL owners meeting, according to ESPN.
The report cited “league and ownership sources” who said Jones told Kraft ‘don’t (expletive) with me’ while the league’s owners debated commissioner Roger Goodell’s compensation.
During an owners-only session, the report said, the subject of the compensation committee being granted permission to open negotiations on a new contract for Goodell arose. Jones was the lone dissent in the 31-1 vote, and while presenting his argument he got into it with Kraft.
‘Don’t (expletive) with me,’ Jones said.
‘Excuse me?’ Kraft replied.
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‘Don’t mess with me,’ Jones said.
Goodell, 63, made $128 million between 2020 and 2021, according to the New York Times. His five-year deal from 2017 will soon expire and the vote signals that Goodell will continue in the commissioner’s role for at least the short term. Once again, ESPN reported, the structure of the deal is the sticking point for Jones, who feels that the triggers for the bonus pool are too vague.
Goodell has been commissioner since 2006 and has ushered in an unprecedented era of popularity and revenue for the league, in addition to a 10-year labor peace agreed to in 2020. That has all not been without controversies (such as concussions and players’ long-term health), lawsuits (the Deshaun Watson cases and from the city of St. Louis for moving the Rams to Los Angeles) and investigations (the Washington Commanders).
Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.