National Football League

Jerry Jones: NFL being critiqued not necessarily negative

Published Sep. 16, 2014 2:53 p.m. ET

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Jerry Jones reiterated Tuesday morning that he supports NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

The Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager said he doesn't want to come off looking like he doesn't understand the seriousness of physical abuse, but Jones believes he knows where Goodell's heart is, and "his heart is on the game."

"He's done nothing but take the job, and take the ball and run with it in a very positive way," Jones said on 105.3 The Fan [KRLD-FM]. "So, yes, I support him."

But with all the negative news currently surrounding the NFL, shouldn't Jones be concerned about the league's overall image?

"I guess you could say that everybody wants what they're doing and what they are to be thought of as highly as it can be," Jones said. "And certainly how it relates to social issues and certainly how it relates to somebody being hurt or abused. I think everybody has that feeling of wanting to do as good as you can do.

"I'm aware that we're the most visible thing there is on television, and television is such a dominant part of our life. All of these issues, from bullying to drinking and driving, all of these things are in the consciousness of our country, and if you're the real leader and significant then you are going to be critiqued. And I think what we're doing is being critiqued, so we have to understand our responsibility here and what we need to do.

"I don't think being critiqued is necessarily, necessarily, a negative. I think it can cause you to get it together if you've been a little light or been a little less than you want to be. I think it allows you to get it together and do better. What does all that mean? What all that means is if in fact we're being criticized and are on the down part of the curve of being criticized, we got the ability and we got the consciousness to get it up and get it turned back to where it's not a positive, but where it's more of a plus."