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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is facing stern criticism from fans after he was caught in a blatant lie about the team’s payroll on Friday.
Jones appeared on local radio station 105.3 The Fan in Dallas and addressed the team’s spending amid criticism over the Cowboys’ lack of activity in free agency.
“I’m proud to tell you today, factually, we spent the most cash of any club in the National Football League this year on players,” Jones said. “We’re the No. 1 cash-spender on players. The reason I’m saying it in that manner is because there was a critique going on a few weeks back that we weren’t sending money on players, which is amusing and ridiculous.”
There’s just one problem with that answer. It’s not true. In fact, it’s not even close to true.
According to Sportrac, the Cowboys rank 13th in the NFL this season in total cash outlay on their roster. Dallas is is set to spend $272,615,492 on its roster in 2024, which is well below the league-leading Cleveland Browns at $334,626,826.
Yes, cash spend isn’t necessarily an indicator of success. But it’s important to note that the Chiefs, 49ers, Eagles, Lions and Texans rank ahead of Dallas.
Perhaps surprisingly, the Los Angeles Rams rank last in the league in cash spent on their roster.
Fans quickly called Jones out for the lie.
“Yikes Jerry, the internet exists in 2024 my guy… I swear this man can’t go a single day without trying to totally bulls— his fanbase,” one wrote.
“It is amazing how Jerry Jones believes that people do not have access to the internet and the ability to fact-check him,” said another.
The heat on Jones comes after he said that would go “all in’ over the offseason. But Dallas was largely quiet in free agency.
The Cowboys are still one of the league’s 10-best teams. But it’s hard to take them seriously as a Super Bowl threat with Jones at the helm.