Saturday, October 18, 2008

Due to second player suspension, Dallas must pay league office

By Chris Mortensen
ESPN.com

The Dallas Cowboys are being "fined" for the suspension of Adam "Pacman" Jones under NFL policy, the league confirmed Friday.

As of Aug. 1, teams are required to submit to the league a portion of the salary forfeited by players who are suspended without pay under the personal conduct, substance abuse, or steroids policy, beginning with a team's second such suspension in a league year.

Cowboys wide receiver Mike Jefferson was suspended in September for four games under the steroids policy.


When applicable, the club must remit a portion of the player's salary to the league, capped at between $200,000 and $500,000 per suspension.

Under this policy, the Cowboys will pay to the league office $20,588 for each game that Jones remains suspended, up to maximum of $200,000 for this suspension.

However, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Friday the figure is a "little high" and that Dallas will be paying closer to 40 percent of the $20,588 per game.

On Tuesday, Adam Jones was suspended for at least four games for his most recent violation of the personal conduct policy. The league said Jones was involved in an alcohol-related incident at a Dallas hotel on Oct. 8 involving a bodyguard assigned to him by the Cowboys.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will determine the ultimate length of Jones' suspension after Dallas' Week 11 game against Washington on Nov. 16.