Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has apologized after a gossip website posted a four-year-old video of him making a racially insensitive comment.
The Blast website reported the video was shot in 2013 at a Dallas hotel by a white man who asked Jones if he would tape a message for his fiancee. Jones appeared to be joking when he said, “Hey, Jennifer, congratulations on the wedding. Now, you know he’s with a black girl tonight, don’t you?”
After the video’s release Friday, Jones apologized in a statement issued by the team, saying, “That comment was inappropriate. It’s not who I am, and I’m sorry.”
The website reported the video was shared by someone who thought it was relevant in light of players sitting or kneeling in protest during the national anthem in the NFL. Former San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick started the protests last year to bring awareness to issues of racial inequality.
Jones has been outspoken in his view that players should stand during the anthem, at one point saying he would bench any player who disrespected the flag.
The apology came at the end of the week that’s seen Jones feature prominently in the headlines over mounting tensions with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
The Associated Press obtained a letter sent by the NFL to Jones’ attorney accusing the Cowboys owner of “conduct detrimental to the league’s best interests” over his objection to a contract extension for Goodell.
The letter accusing Jones of sabotaging the negotiations was sent to David Boies on Wednesday. Jones hired Boies and threatened to sue the NFL if Goodell’s contract extension was approved by the compensation committee, made up of six owners. All 32 owners voted unanimously in May to let the committee finalize a deal with Goodell.
The letter, first reported by the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, was written by outside counsel for the compensation committee and given to the AP by a person who requested anonymity because it was not intended to be made public.
It’s the latest escalation of a feud between the NFL and one of its most powerful owners. Jones has denied that his objections to the extension are tied to Goodell’s decision to suspend star running back Ezekiel Elliott for six games over alleged domestic violence.
Elliott abandoned his legal fight over the suspension Wednesday. He has five games left to serve.
“Your client’s antics, whatever their motivation, are damaging the league and reflect conduct detrimental to the league’s best interests,” the letter said.
Jones has said he has issues with compensation in the deal, along with concerns about the escalation of player protests involving the national anthem and how the league has handled them. He also has suggested that owners should revisit the power that the position wields.
The letter confirmed that Jones was removed as a non-voting member of the compensation committee after threatening to sue.
Jones, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August, was accused of sharing with all the owners an outdated document related to the negotiations with Goodell.
“Someone who is genuinely concerned ‘that the owners know the truth about the negotiations’ would not deliberately distribute such an outdated document, particularly when he has in his possession drafts that are current and accurately reflect the actual state of negotiations, or threaten to sue the league and its owners if he does not get his way,” the letter said.
Jones has acknowledged being at odds with the compensation committee chairman, Atlanta owner Arthur Blank, over the Goodell talks. They didn’t speak on the field before the Falcons’ 27-7 victory over the Cowboys on Sunday.
Blank issued a statement Monday saying the committee planned to proceed with finalizing the Goodell deal and would keep other owners updated.
A spokesman for Jones didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Jones claimed Tuesday on his radio show that “well over half” the owners agree with him in wanting a final vote after the committee is finished negotiating the deal.
“With due respect, we urge Mr Jones to drop his misguided litigation threats and media campaign to undermine the committee’s mandate,” the letter said. “And we urge Mr. Jones to support the committee’s deliberations, not attempt to sabotage them.”