Jenkins Takes Aim at Cowboys’ Jones

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - The Eagles-Cowboys rivalry was turned up a notch on Friday when Malcolm Jenkins took aim at Jerry Jones.

The Eagles' Pro Bowl safety called the billionaire Dallas owner a "bully" for his decree that all of his players must stand for the national anthem.

“It’s unfortunate that you have owners like him who use his position to intimidate and intentionally thwart even the idea of his players thinking individually, or having a voice about issues that affect their community,” Jenkins asserted.

Jones confirmed recently that Cowboys players must stand for the anthem, and will not have the option to remain in the locker room if desired, that despite the NFL owners’ "vote" for a policy allowing the locker-room option in an attempt to find some middle groud with players using their platform to bring attention to certain social-justice issues.

“When you have owners like Jerry Jones who speak so strongly, has drawn his line in the sand, he’s been very vocal about it, and you’ve had other owners be very quiet, Jerry Jones is now the voice of NFL ownership," Jenkins insisted. "So unless you have some other owners come out and make some definitive statements in some support [of the players], they’re going to allow Jerry Jones to push the narrative, not only for NFL owners but for the NFL as well.”

When pressed if Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, who has been very supportive of Jenkins, was included in that group Jenkins did not hesitate.

“Yeah. He’s included in that," Jenkins said. "I think every owner has a voice and will have to decide what they want to do. I think silence is compliance; if you don’t speak on it, you allow it.”

Jenkins did clearly differentiate between the oftem bombastic Jones and his own boss, however.

“Jeffrey’s been very supportive of us from the beginning,” the veteran said. “I don’t see Jeffrey as a bully like Jerry Jones is. Lucky for me, I don’t play for the Cowboys, nor would I want to."

Jenkins has been at the forefront of the issue as the leaders on the NFL Players Coalition that negotiated a $90 million pledge from the league to invest in causes the players are passionate about.

-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen