Jones Fights Back Against Nfl With $750 Million Antitrust Suit

The Dallas Cowboys filed a $750 million antitrust lawsuit against the NFL on Monday, accusing the league of blocking teams from conducting their own marketing business.

The suit, filed in federal court in New York, cites the Sherman Antitrust Act and names the league, NFL Properties and the NFL Trust, which the team called an “illegal cartel.”

The Cowboys seek $200 million in actual damages, which would be trebled because it is an antitrust lawsuit, and $150 million in punitive damages on grounds that the league has engaged in an “unlawful campaign of harassment and intimidation” against the team.

The league sued Jones and the Cowboys for $300 million in September after Jones signed marketing agreements with Pepsi and Nike for Texas Stadium outside of NFL Properties.

“It would have been very naive on their part if they thought they could slap me and I wouldn’t swing hard and hit them back,” Jones said.

Jones contends his aggressive marketing is in the best interests of all 30 teams, not just the Cowboys.

NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue disagrees.

“The attack on NFL Properties and the attack on revenue sharing is going to make it difficult for people to compete,” NFL Tagliabue told ABC during halftime of Monday Night Football. “The lawsuit is a sad comment on where Jerry Jones is. He’s isolated from the other owners.”

The legal action names 28 other team owners. Only fellow maverick Al Davis, who owns the Oakland Raiders, is absent from the lawsuit.

Jets name Esiasion starter

As expected, New York Jets coach Rich Kotite named the disgruntled Boomer Esiason to be the starting quarterback again, while a stunned Glenn Foley began the arduous process of trying to recover from a dislocated throwing shoulder.

Foley admitted he was “devastated” by the injury, which occurred on the Jets’ last play from scrimmage in a 20-7 loss to New England on Sunday. After giving him a magnetic resonance imaging test, team physicians said he would undergo arthroscopic surgery on Wednesday, and will need four to six months of rehabilitation.

At the very least, Esiason’s pride is wounded and his future with the Jets seems murky.

“I don’t have anything to prove to anybody,” the 34-year-old Esiason said when asked whether his return to the starting lineup could lead to his return to the Jets next year.

Levy returns from surgery

Marv Levy returned to the Buffalo Bills the same way he left three weeks ago - surprising everyone.

“Now, where were we?” Levy said Monday at the team’s headquarters in Orchard Park, N.Y., picking up where he left off before undergoing surgery for prostate cancer.

“I’m back and ready to go,” said Levy, who lost 10 pounds. “The doctors said, ‘Go ahead and give it a try if you want.’ He gave me the green light to go for the game on Sunday if everything has progressed OK.”

Fontes faces must-win situation

Detroit Lions owner William Clay Ford says he might fire coach Wayne Fontes at season’s end if the Lions fail to reach the NFL playoffs.

“It’s got to be the playoffs. Absolutely,” Ford said after the Lions lost 34-22 Sunday to Atlanta in the Georgia Dome.

“I think we’ve got enough talent on this team to be (in the) playoffs. And not to make the playoffs is not acceptable.”

Ford said he “probably” would be looking for a new coach if the Lions fall short of the playoffs.

An exception could be, “maybe if half the team gets crippled,” he said. “Short of that, I don’t see too many excuses.”

Hostetler clear to play

Jeff Hostetler, who played most of Oakland’s 20-17 victory over Cincinnati with a broken left hand, is expected to be ready Sunday when the Raiders meet the New York Giants.

Hostetler, who is right-handed, was first thought to have bruised his hand in the first quarter Sunday at Riverfront Stadium. But further examination revealed a crack in the fourth metacarpal bone - between the fingers and the wrist and connecting to the left ring finger.

“It looks like he’s going to be able to play,” Raiders coach Mike White said. “I know this is an important game to him since he’s going back home, back to New York.”

Mora laughs off rumors

Tom Flores attended the New Orleans Saints-St. Louis Rams game on Sunday, prompting immediate questions about Saints coach Jim Mora.

“He was there to interview with (Saints owner) Tom Benson for my job,” Mora dead-panned.

Flores is a former coach of the Raiders and Seattle Seahawks. His wife, Barbara, is a close friend of Mora’s wife, Connie, and he was simply a guest watching the game. The couple visited with Rams officials Saturday night and went out with the Moras on Sunday night.

The visit came at the same time Benson quashed rumors he was actively seeking a replacement for Mora in the wake of the Saints’ 1-6 start, the worst since 1980 when they opened with 14 straight losses and finished 1-15.

Saints coaches and administrators will be evaluated in January, as they always are, Benson said.

End zone

San Diego running back Natrone Means will be out 2-4 weeks with a strained groin muscle… . Derrick Moore, who had been on track for a 1,000-yard rushing season for Carolina, will miss 4-6 weeks with a knee sprain… . Despite his struggles in a 24-3 loss to Kansas City, Washington coach Norv Turner said Gus Frerotte will remain the team’s starting quarterback when the team hosts Seattle in two weeks… . Green Bay reserve quarterback Ty Detmer will undergo surgery to repair torn ligaments in his right thumb and will be out approximately six weeks… . The Fort Worth StarTelegram reported Dallas reserve cornerback Clayton Holmes is facing a yearlong suspension for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.