Current:Home > reviewsCowboys' Jerry Jones wants more NFL owners of color. He has a lot of gall saying that now. -Finovate
Cowboys' Jerry Jones wants more NFL owners of color. He has a lot of gall saying that now.
View
Date:2025-04-17 15:33:08
Jerry Jones has a lot of gall. This isn't new. He's had a lot of gall since he bought the Dallas Cowboys decades ago. That gall has served Jones well and helped him build a football empire that, in the end, might end up being the richest in American sports history. But this particular moment of Jones gall is, well, the most galling of all.
In what is an incredibly staggering moment in the life of Jones, he said that he wants to push for more NFL owners of color. The story was so unbelievable it didn't seem real. I checked the date. Nope. Not April 1. It was real.
"Nobody got in on a wing and prayer any more than I did, and I really couldn't afford it," Jones said. "But I got into it and as we look and see − and we do see − the qualified potential buyers out here that can get involved and that's one way. It's not the only way.
"(There are) multiple ways to address inequity. Multiple ways to go do it. And certainly I would think about one way is to try to work to get ownership improved in the minority area. And I'm all for it and I do it. I work at it. I work at it."
That was several days ago. Jones made similar remarks in a radio interview Tuesday on the Shan & RJ show on Audacy's 105.3 The Fan: "I don’t have a lot to add in general … I’m very active, and I’m very positive about having minority potential ownership in the National Football League … The main reason I’m qualified to say that (is because) I came from the back of the pack to get to be a part of ownership. I certainly was not listed anywhere in the thousands and thousands and thousands of people on this Earth as someone that was financially qualified to own an NFL team … My position is the opposite from what I am being critiqued for … I understand because I know the times we’re in. But I want to be a good soldier here.”
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
The galling part to all of this?
Journalist Jim Trotter, a former NFL Media employee, recently filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against the NFL. Part of the suit alleges that Jones said, in front of Trotter and others: "If Blacks feel some kind of way, they should buy their own team and hire who they want to hire."
So Jones saying now, literally just days after Trotter's accusations became public, that the league needs more diversity among its ownership, is really something.
Jim Trotter alleges NFL racial discrimination. His claims are huge problem for the league.
Really, really something.
You see, Jones is a majority owner, and people like him make the decisions about their teams and the league. He has been the centrifuge of NFL power for some time. I'm unaware of any extensive effort by Jones to bring in owners of color. It may have happened but I've just never heard about it.
The Cowboys are also one of the NFL teams that have never had a Black head coach. Why should anyone believe he'd push to get owners of color but hasn't even hired a Black head coach? He's owned the team since 1989.
It's possible this topic has been a passion of Jones' for decades and he's spoken about it repeatedly and privately with other owners or Commissioner Roger Goodell. Maybe also in the past Jones has spoken publicly in this way before about this desire to diversify the ownership ranks and I'm missing those comments.
However, and this is important, even if all of that did happen, it wouldn't nullify the fact that Jones is talking publicly about it now. The timing is the problem. It reeks of public relations and a reaction to Trotter's lawsuit.
To me, Jones saying these things gives even more weight to Trotter's claims that were already highly credible.
Jones has denied Trotter's allegations and did so again to ESPN.
"Jim's a friend and I think a lot of him," Jones said. "I hate that we've got some litigation and hopefully we will address all of that, but the overall concern I would say is just not accurate."
Jones added this: "You know the financial hurdles for everything has gone up, but percentage-wise there are qualified people out here. If they aren't here this minute, they're on their way because that's what's happening in this country is people do gain on it and many of the people that recently have gotten involved in the NFL might not have been able to do it 20 years ago.
Vikings' Alexander Mattison reveals racial abuse from fans after fumble in loss to Eagles
"So, continuing to share thoughts and ideas with other people about being involved and from ownership is something that I can speak to. I've wanted it when I couldn't afford it and I am a big disciple, so to speak, that you can do it."
No one is saying Jones is racist. I am, however, saying that on this subject, Jones is full of it.
It seems more that Trotter's lawsuit caught Jones by surprise and stunned both him and the league. This was Jones' way of trying to minimize the damage. It didn't work.
Despite the massive amount of gall.
veryGood! (9)
Related
- Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
- Celebrating July 2, America's other Independence Day
- Jessica Alba Praises Her and Cash Warren’s “Angel” Daughter Honor in 15th Birthday Tribute
- After Dozens of Gas Explosions, a Community Looks for Alternatives to Natural Gas
- Juan Soto praise of Mets' future a tough sight for Yankees, but World Series goal remains
- Judge Orders Dakota Access Pipeline Spill Response Plan, with Tribe’s Input
- Dad falls 200 feet to his death from cliff while hiking with wife and 5 kids near Oregon's Multnomah Falls
- Controversial BLM Chief Pendley’s Tenure Extended Again Without Nomination, Despite Protests
- Trump invites nearly all federal workers to quit now, get paid through September
- World’s Current Fossil Fuel Plans Will Shatter Paris Climate Limits, UN Warns
Ranking
- SFO's new sensory room helps neurodivergent travelers fight flying jitters
- 22 Father's Day Gift Ideas for the TV & Movie-Obsessed Dad
- Courts Question Pipeline Builders’ Use of Eminent Domain to Take Land
- World’s Current Fossil Fuel Plans Will Shatter Paris Climate Limits, UN Warns
- DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
- Natalee Holloway Suspect Joran Van Der Sloot Pleads Not Guilty in U.S. Fraud Case
- Controversial BLM Chief Pendley’s Tenure Extended Again Without Nomination, Despite Protests
- The Ultimatum: Queer Love Relationship Status Check: Who's Still Together?
Recommendation
IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
Woman hit and killed by stolen forklift
Firework injuries send people to hospitals across U.S. as authorities issue warnings
Warming Trends: Battling Beetles, Climate Change Blues and a Tool That Helps You Take Action
How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
Did Exxon Mislead Investors About Climate-Related Risks? It’s Now Up to a Judge to Decide.
With an All-Hands-on-Deck International Summit, Biden Signals the US is Ready to Lead the World on Climate
Targeted as a Coal Ash Dumping Ground, This Georgia Town Fought Back