Jerry Jones knows that he cannot speak as freely as he used to to embattled Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder because, in the words of 2 Chainz, “Feds Watching.” Jones kept it very real about the modifications he has made to his communication with Snyder and much more about the potential departure of Snyder from the NFL ownership ranks.
“I would say we’ve had to be more formal in our conversations,” Jones said to USA TODAY Sports. “We’re not as cavalier as we might have been. Follow me? Don’t know who’s listening. Who’s what? So, we’ve had to be more formal.”
The fact that Jerry Jones was taking pictures and signing autographs at Fedex Field and Dan Snyder wasn't even at the game tells you all you need to know about this season https://t.co/gO8N4GTMjf
— Tailgate Ted (@TailgateTed) January 9, 2023
New Rules
Is that code for we cannot be our usual privileged selves and spew all the wealth-vantaged opinions steeped in white privilege? Perhaps we may never get the COINTELPRO-style NFL owner tapes due to Jones’s newfound cautious outlook on his relationship with Snyder.
When news broke that Snyder and his wife Tanya had enlisted Bank of America to explore selling part or all of the franchise, many took Snyder’s exploration as the writing on the wall. After all, the factors surrounding his ownership have made staying with the team nestled in the Washington, D.C., suburbs an uncomfortable proposition.
There are toxic workplace misconduct and sexual harassment from former cheerleaders and staffers. Then the subsequent investigation by the House Committee for Oversight and Reform’s investigation into the allegations. That’s the federal problem. Locally, Washington, D.C., Attorney General Karl Racine filed a lawsuit claiming Snyder and the NFL misled the public about the toxic work environment investigation. Additionally, the email scandal sent former NFL coach Jon Gruden out of the league.
“He’s got the perfect storm,” Jones continued. “If he decided to move on, who could possibly blame him? Or her? On top of that, he’s not the most beloved guy around, which I guess I might identify with a bit, too.”
Jones was called to task for his past growing up in the segregated school system of Little Rock, Arkansas. A picture of a young Jerry Jones standing amid a rally to prevent the integration of the North Little Rock High School where he was quarterback sent ripples through the sports world and beyond. Although Jones explained away his presence at the rally as a curious kid observing what would become part of a more significant historical moment, some Cowboys fanbase distrust persisted.
Notably, LeBron James abandoned “America’s Team” after Jones’ lack of support for player’s kneeling and for what he felt was the media’s lack of coverage of Jones’ at the segregation rally.
The Pragmatic Mr. Jones
With so many issues swirling between both Snyder and Jones, he is being understandably cautious. For Jones, its about fiscal responsibility, self-preservation, and preservation of the intangibles that make NFL franchises tick.
“Is he worth me taking a sword? He’s not Al Davis. For me, he’s not,” Jones continued. “My main thing about Washington is that I don’t want to do damage to the ability to attract capital. With sponsors alone, you want people to stand in line to be associated with the team. There are a lot of natural things that will occur on their own if you don’t mess it up.
“One of the strengths of the NFL is that when you’ve had, for whatever reason, ownership stumble or get tired or get compromised, we have great capital available to us, new owners willing to put in. So, your future investment in the league doesn’t need to have people that are going to get into a (expletive) storm every time they walk out their door as potential owners. That’s going to keep them from coming in. We want to encourage people to come into the ownership of the league.”
Jerry Jones knows Dan Snyder’s actions are wrong for the league overall. He is still discovering the balance of staying in Snyder’s orbit while preparing for his potential departure.
