The National Football League has levied a hefty $250,000 penalty on Dallas Cowboys proprietor Jones for what he claims was an “inadvertent” obscene gesture made toward attendees during a Sunday’s game at the Jets’ stadium.
Widely circulated footage appeared to show Jones flashing his middle finger toward opposing supporters, though he maintains he was actually signaling approval to Dallas supporters in attendance as his team secured a 37-22 victory.
“It was regrettable. It was essentially an exchange with Cowboys supporters out in front of us,” Jones stated during a Tuesday interview. “Present was a large group of Cowboys fans—not New York fans, Cowboys fans. The whole venue was brimming with excitement for the Cowboys.”
He further emphasized that the gesture was entirely unintentional, occurring amid the excitement following the team’s final touchdown. “I simply showed the wrong finger,” he remarked. “The action was accidentally done. I’m not kidding. Should you call it unplanned, you can. However, it got corrected rapidly.”
This is not the first time an league proprietor has been fined for inappropriate behavior. Previous examples include:
Jones, who is known for his media savvy, possesses an estimated net worth of around $16bn, making the penalty manageable for the wealthy proprietor.
This event comes after a controversial preseason for Jones, who encountered significant backlash from the Dallas supporters after the team dealt key pass rusher Parsons to the Packers.
Moreover, Jones was a central figure in a streaming series that examined his role in building the Dallas franchise into the world’s highest-worth sports franchise, despite its recent title shortcomings.
The NFL’s decision to fine Jones highlights its ongoing initiative to maintain proper behavior among all team officials, irrespective of their position or wealth.
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