🔗 Share this article Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Penalized $250,000 for ‘Inadvertent’ Obscene Gesture toward Fans The NFL has levied a substantial $250,000 fine on Cowboys proprietor Jones for what he describes as an “inadvertent” offensive hand signal made toward attendees during a Sunday’s contest at the Jets’ stadium. Widely circulated footage seemed to capture Jones flashing his middle finger at Jets fans, but Jones maintains he was actually giving a thumbs-up to Dallas supporters in attendance as his team clinched a decisive win. “That was regrettable. It was essentially an exchange with Cowboys supporters seated near me,” Jones explained during a radio appearance. “Present was a large group of Cowboys fans—not Jets fans, our fans. The whole venue was filled with excitement for the Cowboys.” Jones additionally emphasized that the signal was completely unintentional, occurring amid the excitement following the team’s last score. “I just put up the incorrect finger,” he noted. “It was accidentally performed. I’m not kidding. Should you call it unplanned, you can. However, it got resolved pretty quick.” League Precedent for Proprietor Fines This is not the initial instance an league proprietor has been penalized for misconduct. Recent cases involve: Panthers owner David Tepper was fined $300,000 for throwing a drink at spectators in January 2024. Then Titans owner Bud Adams was issued a $250,000 penalty in 2009 for a comparable offensive signal. Jones, who is recognized for his media savvy, possesses an estimated net worth of $16 billion, so the fine manageable for the billionaire proprietor. Recent Issues and Public Attention The incident follows a controversial preseason for Jones, who encountered widespread criticism from the Cowboys fanbase after the team dealt key defensive player Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. Additionally, Jones was a prominent figure in a Netflix documentary that explored his influence in developing the Dallas franchise into the globe’s most valuable sports franchise, despite its modern-era title shortcomings. The NFL’s decision to fine Jones underscores its ongoing initiative to maintain professional conduct among all franchise representatives, irrespective of their position or wealth.