Roger Goodell and his war with the Dallas Cowboys

Roger Goodell is meeting with Ezekiel Elliott and Dallas Cowboys’ fans everywhere hold their collective breath for fear that his grudge will continue.

The Dallas Cowboys are holding their breath about the meeting between Roger Goodell and Ezekiel Elliott. Many fans are thinking that Goodell has it in for not just Zeke, but the entire Cowboys organization. While this may or may not be true, it makes for a great conspiracy theory either way.

We know that the recent battle between Jones and Goodell seemingly started in 2017, however that may not be the entire part of the story. Going back to Goodell successor and former boss, Paul Tagliabue, Jones was one of the old guard who tried to prevent Tagliabue from being Commissioner. When he retired, we know that Jones was pushing for Robert Reynolds and not Goodell.

Eventually, Goodell was elected and the league went about to work that led to massive increases in TV money. At the time of his election, Jerry Jones did steal a little of the thunder with the announcement of the building of JerryWorld. It may not have been a big thing, but then again, maybe it was.

Fast forward to 2014 and Jerry Jones was at the center of a scandal that involved an exotic dancer and alleged sexual assault. While it was found to be “completely false”, the image of the NFL had taken a little bit of a hit. It may have only been a blip on the radar at the time, but that would soon change.

In 2016, the Dallas Cowboys drafted Ezekiel Elliott and the real battle seemed to be on. After Elliott was charged with domestic assault and cleared from all criminal charges, the Cowboys thought there wouldn’t be much of a punishment from the NFL. Even the NFL lead investigator said that there shouldn’t be punishment. Elliott instead, got six games.

Right after the punishment was levied by Goodell, his contract was due for renewal. Jerry Jones led a charge to not renew his contract and a very public war was waged between Goodell and Jones. This war has seemingly continued ever since with neither side backing down at all. This is all exacerbated by the unequal punishments by Goodell from other players in the NFL in comparison to Elliott.

This history brings us to today, July 2nd 2019. Last week Goodelll met with Tyreek Hill who was charged with domestic abuse of his child. Hill is still waiting to see what Goodell does, but there are rumors he will not get anywhere near six games. Then shortly after his meeting Roger Goodell notifies the NFL headquarters he is giving them the week of the 4th of July off.

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I joked with Patrik Walker as soon as this news was released that Roger Goodell was going to speak with Elliott without the witnesses of the staff being there. Little did I know my joke was going to take a serious turn, and Goodell did in fact request to speak with Elliott. How Goodell handles both the Elliott and Hill suspensions will go a long way to say whether there could be a conspiracy theory actually brewing or if this is all something else.

There are only two ways this can go for Goodell in the eyes of Cowboys’s fans and unbiased fans around the league. One is that Goodell gives Elliott a very small suspension or none at all and everyone moves on. The other is that Goodell drops the hammer and gives the appearance of holding a grudge against Jones and the Dallas Cowboys.

To be clear I am not saying there is in fact a conspiracy here. But there is some warrant of attention to the situation and how it is being handled. We will find out shortly what Goodell does with Elliott and CowboysNation holds it breath.

• Published on 07/02/2019 at 12:40 PM
• Last updated at 07/02/2019 at 11:56 AM