Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones again denied racist comments attributed to him in a discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against the NFL by former NFL Network employee Jim Trotter.
Trotter, who currently writes for The Athletic, filed a 53-page complaint in federal court in Manhattan last Tuesday.
As a part of that complaint, Trotter mentioned what he felt were racist comments by Jones that he felt weren’t properly addressed by NFL Network officials.
Trotter claims that in August 2020, when he asked Jones about the lack of Black employees in decision-making positions at the NFL, the Cowboys owner gave an incendiary response.
“If Blacks feel some kind of way, they should buy their own team and hire who they want to hire,” said Jones according to the complaint.
Jones said the comments attributed to him were not accurate in a statement released by team officials last week and reiterated that stance following Sunday’s 30-10 victory against the New York Jets. He added that he has worked hard to get minority owners in the NFL.
“Some of the representation is not accurate. Just not accurate,” Jones said. “But I do and want to and have worked very hard to get minority ownership in the NFL. Spent a lot of time, and I’m all for that, of course. Jim’s a friend, and I think a lot of him. 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.”
The NFL has no Black majority owners among its 32 teams and only three Black head coaches, while roughly 60% of the league’s players are Black.
“Spent a lot of time talking to them, showing them and talking to them about how they could get in the NFL,” Jones said. “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.”
Jones understands the financial hurdles that have impacted Blacks from gaining ownership, most notably the rising cost of NFL franchises and league rule that a majority must put down 30 percent of the cost.
“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... 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 ... and many of the people that recently have gotten involved in the NFL might not have been able to do it 20 years ago, so continuing to share thoughts and ideas with other people about being involved and from the ownership is something that I can speak to.”
Jones even invoked mentioned Magic Johnson, the NBA legend who is part of the new Washington Commanders ownership group led by Josh Harris with a four percent stake a step in the right direction.
“Magic is a great ambassador and I’d carry (him) piggyback to get him in the NFL,’‘ Jones said.
Jones said it is very important to have continued dialogue and discussions about diversifying the NFL’s ownership ranks and believes his comments to Trotter were misrepresented.
“It’s very important. We want that. We work at it,” Jones said. “Really, that was the intent — my intent when we were talking and I regret that with Jim. I do. I really do, because he’s a friend.”
Jones said his focus and purpose is to do what’s best for the NFL.
“I love the National Football League,” Jones said. “I love football, and if we can improve it by having people that aren’t in ownership today in ownership, I’ll walk across Texas to do it.”
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Jerry Jones would carry Magic Johnson piggyback, ‘walk across Texas’ for Black NFL owners
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