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Owners set December meeting over Roger Goodell deal

By The Sports Xchange
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell walks onto the field before the season opener between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots in September. Photo by Matthew Healey/ UPI
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell walks onto the field before the season opener between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots in September. Photo by Matthew Healey/ UPI | License Photo

The Roger Goodell contract extension negotiations will be discussed Dec. 13 during an owners-only session at the league's meetings in Irving, Texas.

The decision to conduct a discussion at the meetings comes on the heels of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' recent request for a special meeting on Nov. 28. That request was denied but Jones and the other owners will get to chat about the demands of Goodell as reports suggest the NFL commissioner is looking for an annual package of nearly $50 million in his next contract.

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Jones recently threatened to sue the NFL if the extension is approved by the six-owner compensation committee, headed by Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank.

As the war of words intensified, Jones denied that his ire for Goodell is fueled by the six-game suspension running back Ezekiel Elliott is currently serving for an alleged domestic violence incident. Elliott ended his legal fight on Wednesday with five games remaining.

Jones defended his position on Friday in a radio interview with 105.3 The Fan in Dallas.

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"It would be madness to think that everything I'm doing isn't in the best short- and long-term interest of the NFL," Jones said. "I love this league, and I love this game. And the men that are involved, the committee and the owners, are really good men and they've been in it almost as long as I have.

"But I've been knowing some of these people well on 30 years. And they know I have the NFL's best interest in mind."

Earlier this week, Jones was informed by other NFL owners via letter that he is engaging in "conduct detrimental to the league's best interests."

The letter accused Jones of sabotaging the negotiations in the latest round of the escalating feud between Jones and Goodell. Jones is suspected of sharing outdated documents about negotiations with Goodell to other owners.

It was revealed last weekend that Goodell requested a salary of approximately $49.5 million, a private jet and lifetime health insurance of his family last August. Goodell's contract expires in 2018.

The initial offer from the compensation committee was $39.5 million and some owners reportedly had an issue with that amount -- let alone the higher figure proposed by Goodell's lawyers.

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Goodell also has reportedly requested a severance package of $62.5 million upon resigning as commissioner. The compensation committee has offered $40 million.

Goodell also would receive a lump-sum payment of $19 million to serve as a consultant for five years after leaving the NFL.

Goodell is also seeking a $25 million performance bonus for upcoming negotiations on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement and with NFL business partners.

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