Last week, Jerry Jones violated a gag order issued by commissioner Roger Goodell with respect to labor issues, openly criticizing the current agreement-- particularly the current system of revenue sharing in--the NFL. Due to this, Jerry will have to share some of his personal revenue with Mr. Goodell's office.
At least $100,000 worth, in fact.
Goodell refused to disclose the exact fine, but according to ESPN, sources described it as "at least six figures."
Jones' remarks came during a media interview in Minnesota aimed at aiding Vikings owner Zygi Wilf's attempts to land a new stadium in the Twin Cities.
"Right now, we are subsidizing this market," Jones said last week. "It's unthinkable to think that the market you've got here, with 3.5 million people, and have teams like Kansas City and Green Bay subsidizing this market. That will stop. That's going to stop. That's called revenue sharing. That's on its way out."
Revenue sharing is a basic component of the current agreement which, due to an option exercised by the owners in 2008, will be terminated after next season.
Jones was unapologetic in a statement released yesterday.
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"If my comments in Minnesota were viewed as being over the line, then so be it," Jones said. "The comments were made in an effort to assist a fellow NFL owner and his team's pursuit of bringing a new stadium to the fans of the Twin Cities. Having just completed the process of stadium construction, and knowing how much it means to an NFL market, this is something that I would do for any of my ownership partners.
"It just goes to show how intertwined labor issues are with the construction of new stadiums -- from a positive perspective."
