From the moment video began to circulate on Sunday of Cowboys owner and G.M. Jerry Jones showing the New Jersey state bird to Jets fans at MetLife Stadium, it was obvious that the NFL would impose a financial punishment.
And Jones was fined $250,000 — despite his laughable claim that he meant to give a thumb’s up instead.
It happened sixteen years after the league fined the late Bud Adams, founder of the Oilers/Titans, the same amount for firing off a double-barreled middle finger during a game against the Bills.
Beyond Jones’s bizarre contention that his fingers essentially have a mind of their own (hey, who hasn’t accidentally flipped someone off when attempting to make a very different gesture?) is another strange-but-true fact. When Panthers owner David Tepper was caught on camera deliberately throwing a drink on fans during a game in Jacksonville two years ago, he was fined only $300,000.
With Jones appealing his punishment, maybe he should ditch the wayward-digit argument and argue that the punishment isn’t proportionate to Tepper’s fine for throwing a drink on a customer.
In hindsight, Tepper’s punishment was ridiculously low. People give other people the finger all the time. It’s a victimless crime, especially when done in jest. (And, based on the video, Jerry looked to be simply having some boys-will-be-boys fun.) Throwing a drink on someone is a significant insult, especially since the liquid potentially carries germs or viruses or other nasty stuff that made its way from the drink-thrower’s mouth into the drink before the drink was hurled onto someone else.
Also, why does Jones even care about the fine? He’s a multi-billionaire. Not long ago, he expressed defiance regarding the rule against directly negotiating with players who have agents, and he basically said, “Go ahead and fine me.”
Now that he’s been fined the paltry (for him) amount of $250,000, the boss move would be to pay it in, as Randy Moss once said, “straight cash, homie.”
Running back Chuba Hubbard missed last Sunday’s Panthers win with a calf injury and he was not ready to get back on the field Wednesday.
Hubbard missed the team’s first practice ahead of their Week 6 matchup with the Cowboys. Hubbard’s absence was not a problem for the Panthers against the Dolphins because Rico Dowdle ran for 206 yards in their 27-24 win and Dowdle will be the lead back against his former team if Hubbard remains out.
The Panthers also practiced without right tackle Taylor Moten (elbow), defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton (toe), and cornerback Akayleb Evans (hamstring).
Tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders (ankle) returned as a limited participant after missing the last two games. Defensive back Chau Smith-Wade (chest) was out last Sunday, but was listed as a full participant along with cornerback Mike Jackson (ribs) and wide receiver Jalen Coker (quad).
The Panthers came back from being 17-0 down to beat the Dolphins in Week 5 and running back Rico Dowdle had a lot to do with that.
Dowdle set a career high by running for 206 yards on 23 carries during the 27-24 victory. One of those carries was a one-yard touchdown that gave the Panthers their first lead of the day and he also had three catches for 28 yards.
The NFL announced on Wednesday that Dowdle has been named the NFC offensive player of the week as a result of his performance.
Dowdle will try to keep it rolling against his former team when the Panthers face the Cowboys in Week 6.
The Jaguars’ comeback win on Monday night felt improbable, but it fit right in with the rest of Week 5’s action.
They fell behind 14-0 in the first half of the game before rallying back to take the lead in the third quarter and ultimately pulling out the win in the final seconds. That made them the sixth team to come back from a double-digit deficit to win this week.
According to the Associated Press, it is the sixth time in NFL history with such a six-pack of games. The last time it happened was in 2013.
The Broncos, Titans, Saints, Panthers, and Commanders were the other teams to come back from being down at least 10 points in Week 6.
Wide receiver Jalen Coker is on his way back to the Panthers lineup.
Head coach Dave Canales said at a Monday press conference that Coker will practice with the team on Wednesday. Coker is on injured reserve after hurting his quad this summer and will have a three-week window to practice with the team after being designated for return.
Coker can be activated at any point in that window, but Canales said that it’s too soon to know if a Week 6 return is a possibility.
Coker had 32 catches for 478 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games with the Panthers as a rookie last season.
