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The National Football League has imposed a substantial $250,000 penalty on Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for what he describes as an “inadvertent” offensive hand signal made toward attendees during a recent contest at the Jets’ stadium.

Viral video clips appeared to show Jones making an obscene gesture at Jets fans, though he maintains he was actually giving a thumbs-up to Dallas supporters in attendance as his team clinched a 37-22 victory.

“It was unfortunate. That was essentially an exchange with our fans seated near me,” Jones explained during a Tuesday interview. “Present was a large group of Cowboys fans—not New York fans, our fans. The entire stadium was filled with excitement for the Dallas team.”

He further clarified that the signal was completely unintentional, occurring amid the elation following the team’s final touchdown. “I simply put up the wrong finger,” he noted. “It was inadvertently performed. I’m not kidding. Should you call it accidental, you can. But it got resolved rapidly.”

League Context for Proprietor Fines

This is not the first time an NFL owner has been fined for misconduct. Recent examples involve:

• Panthers proprietor Tepper was penalized $300K for throwing a drink at fans in January 2024.
• Then Titans proprietor Adams was issued a $250,000 penalty in 2009 for a comparable obscene gesture.

Jones, a figure who is recognized for his media savvy, reportedly has an estimated wealth of around $16bn, so the fine manageable for the billionaire owner.

Recent Issues and Public Attention

This event follows a contentious preseason for Jones, who encountered widespread criticism from the Dallas supporters after the team traded star pass rusher Parsons to the Packers.

Additionally, Jones was a central subject in a streaming series that examined his influence in developing the Dallas franchise into the world’s highest-worth athletic organization, even with its modern-era championship drought.

The NFL’s action to penalize Jones underscores its ongoing effort to maintain proper behavior among all franchise representatives, irrespective of their status or financial standing.