Jerry Jones admitted Tuesday to making a middle finger gesture during Sunday’s Jets-Cowboys game at MetLife Stadium.
Shortly after, news broke that the move would cost the owner of the Dallas Cowboys a hefty fine. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the NFL is fining Jones $250,000 for what Jones claimed was an “accidental” middle finger. Jones will appeal the fine, according to NFL Network.
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The incident occurred during the Cowboys’ 37-22 victory over the Jets on Sunday at New York Stadium. Jones was there and shared the not-so-cordial moment with someone from his luxury dressing room.
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A video of the incident emerged after the match. Jones shared a wave with fans from his box as the Cowboys prepared to score an extra point to extend their lead to double digits in the second half.
He also shared a middle finger.
Jones did so with a smile on his face and followed it with a pointing finger, clearly pleased with the afternoon’s events. Former Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant happily shared the video on his social media.
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Jerry Jones claims he wanted a thumbs up
On Tuesday, Jones was asked about the interaction and admitted he gave the finger. But he says it wasn’t intentional.
“It was kind of an exchange with the fans in front of us,” Jones told 105.3 The Fan during his weekly radio interview. “There was a swarm of Cowboys fans out front – not Jets fans – Cowboys fans. And the whole stadium was overflowing with Cowboys enthusiasm, certainly late in the game. It was inadvertent on my part. … There was no antagonistic problem or anything like that. I just put on the wrong show on my hand.
“I’m not kidding. If you want to call it accidental, you can call it accidental. But he straightened up pretty quickly. I had a chance to watch him. He straightened up pretty quickly.
“But the intention was to give a thumbs up and point at our fans because everyone was jumping up and down and excited.”
The league has a history of frowning upon its owners sharing such gestures with paying customers. There is precedent for Jones’ fine.
In 2009, Bud Adams, owner of the Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans, threw two birdies while celebrating the Titans’ home victory over the Buffalo Bills.
There was no doubt about these birds as Adams presented them repeatedly and brilliantly, also from the confines of his luxury box.
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Adams apologized hours later, via a statement.
“I realize that this type of thing should not happen,” Adams’ statement read. “I must specifically apologize to the Bills, their fans, our fans and the NFL.”
Adams’ apology did not spare him from a $250,000 fine by the NFL. At the time, Adams wouldn’t say whether it was worth it. Now Jones would have met the same fate.
