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- The Dallas Cowboys paid $2.4 million in a settlement with four cheerleaders over voyeurism allegations.
- A NFL spokesman said the NFL was going to “decline comment” on the scandal because it is “a club matter.”
- Read more news about the NFL here.
On Wednesday, it was reported that the Dallas Cowboys had paid a settlement totaling $2.4 million after four cheerleaders accused a senior team executive of peeping on and recording them while they undressed in their locker room.
The accusations of voyeurism were levied in 2015 against Cowboys senior vice president for public relations and communications Richard Dalrymple.
Dalrymple was issued a formal written warning by the team in October 2015 and had his access to the cheerleaders’ locker room revoked.
The Cowboys claimed that after their investigation of the matter they “found no evidence of wrongdoing.”
Yet, at the same time, Dallas paid out the $2.4 million in a settlement with the four Cowboys cheerleaders which included a nondisclosure agreement “in which the four women, three of their spouses and Cowboys officials agreed to never speak publicly about their allegations.”
Considering the ongoing investigation into claims of sexual harassment and assault against members of the Washington Commanders front office, one would assume that the NFL would want to be clear about its stance in the Cowboys matter.
One would be wrong.
Instead, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told ProFootballTalk.com, when asked about the scandal in Dallas, said, “We will decline comment as this was a club matter.”
If it all sounds very confusing, that’s because it is.
The NFL called the Dallas Cowboys voyeurism a “club matter”
In Washington, despite conducting an “independent” investigation along with the release of numerous emails that led to Job Gruden losing his job in Las Vegas, former Washington Football Team cheerleaders are still being left in the dark by the NFL regarding their harassment and sexual misconduct claims.
Then again, when asked what he thought about the NFL’s handling of the Washington scandal back in October of 2021, Cowboys owner replied that he was “very satisfied.”
A slew of fans took issue with Jones’ response, saying that of course Jones was happy about the investigation being over because nothing negative came out about him or the Cowboys.
Many of those same fans also have a problem with the NFL “declining to comment” on the Cowboys’ voyeurism scandal and settlement because it is a “club matter.”
Key question: Did the Cowboys report the allegations to the league office when the claims were made or when they were resolved? The Personal Conduct Policy seems to require it.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) February 17, 2022
The Cowboys paid $2.4 million to settle the claims, but found no wrongdoing when investigating the situation. That discrepancy alone cries out for an NFL investigation.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) February 17, 2022
Just like explicit cheerleader videos for Washington owner Dan Snyder is a club matter… oh wait, or… common interest with the NFL. 🤯
— Megan Imbert (@meganimbert) February 17, 2022
https://twitter.com/jjj2121/status/1494377140057518085
Jerry Jones runs the league let’s be honest
— Jared (@TheJaredDG) February 17, 2022
This matter the club shouldn’t have been able to investigate especially when the subject of the investigation was Jerry’s right hand person.
— Megan Imbert (@meganimbert) February 17, 2022
gotta protect Jerruh
— John Dillermand (@Pro77C) February 17, 2022