Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is no racist.
Let me get that out there first.
I have spent too much time with him, on and off the record.
I've covered him for 23 years and I've heard all the stories, all the rumors.
All the Jerryisms and all "that's just Jerry being Jerry."
I was there when Jones said, "I want me some glory hole" into a microphone to the shock of all at the start of training camp in 2012.
When it comes to Jones and his core beliefs and candid sense of humor, he simply can't help himself. It's going to come out.
I have seen it all and heard it all _ save for racism.
Jones has not gone there. He has never been that. And former receiver Dez Bryant, who called Jones out recently about not attending a social justice protest in Austin and missing out on a transformative opportunity, will tell you that.
But right now, as the world seems to be changing before our eyes with the most unifying racial reconciliation efforts of our lifetime, Jones finds himself silent and, therefore on the wrong side of history.
It has some people in the black community, who are still unhappy with his stance on player protests, unable to tell the difference.
And here's an important reality for Jones and everyone else in 2020, silence is no longer proper. Silence is no longer acceptable. Silence is violence is the new mantra. And that can't be the message they want to send.
Yet Jones has made no official comments denouncing racism since the killing of George Floyd by a white Minneapolis police officer on May 25 and the racial tension as well as unity that has been at the core of Black Lives Matter protests, not just in cities across the country but around the world.
The team released a slick, two-minute video showing things players on the Cowboys were doing in the community and conversations they were having with law enforcement personnel to tackle the issue. But it was largely whitewashed with no direct conversations about racism and/or police brutality against people of color.
Individual players like quarterback Dak Prescott and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and vice president of player personnel Will McClay have spoken out, honestly and with raw emotions on social media. That level of urgency was not seen on the team's video.
The Cowboys' neutered official response is offset by the Dallas Mavericks and team owner Mark Cuban, who have been at the forefront _ not just locally, but nationally _ regarding conversations on matters of race.
And given that Jones has never been too shy about giving his opinion on anything, it's becoming increasingly unsettling that he continues to be quiet on something as easy to condemn as racism.
That silence has become unbearable, especially since it has been nearly a week since NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's stunning "we were wrong" admission on the league's stance regarding silent player protests. Goodell apologized for failing to embrace the impact of police brutality on African Americans and admitted the NFL was wrong on how it handled player protests during the national anthem.
The protests began with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick taking a knee during the anthem in 2016 in an attempt to bring attention to police brutality and the systemic oppression of black people.
Goodell's reversal came after 15 black prominent players, including the reigning Super Bowl MVP Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, released a video demanding the NFL give them the right to protest and support them in the fight against racism.
His answer was important: "We, the National Football League, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest. We, the National Football League, believe black lives matter.
"I will personally protest with you, and want to be part of the much-needed change in this country. We are listening. I am listening."
Goodell may be listening. But he works at the behest of the 32 team owners. What they say on this subject matters most, as Goodell's bluff has already been called out by President Donald Trump in a tweet last Sunday.
"Could it be even remotely possible that in Roger Goodell's rather interesting statement of peace and reconciliation, he was intimating that it would now be O.K. for the players to KNEEL, or not to stand, for the National Anthem, thereby disrespecting our Country & our Flag?" Trump asked rhetorically.
There has been no response as of yet from any of those 32 NFL owners.
And considering no owner was more openly opposed to the protests than Jones, the whole league is still waiting for him to speak up and speak out.
Remember, it was Jones who instituted a policy requiring the Cowboys to stand with toes on the line during the anthem. It was Jones who said that if the players did something during the anthem that could be viewed as disrespectful to the flag, "we won't play. Period."
Simply put, you wouldn't start and you would be cut _ a threat that was reiterated by Jones' son, team vice president Stephen Jones.
Both men knew the protests were about police brutality and racism, but neither wanted to alienate fans or sponsors. Nor did they want to get into a fight with Trump.
But that excuse is no longer good enough _ not when a direct line can be drawn from their refusal to tolerate Kaepernick's knee on the field to denounce racism and police brutality to the second-degree murder charge facing former police officer Derek Chauvin, who pressed his knee into Floyd's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds.
Kaepernick and the players tried to tell you. But appearances and feigned respect for a flag ultimately meant more than a man's life. One begat the other.
The fight is back on and there is no question there will be a new wave of protests when games return. Expect to see some Cowboys take part. And don't be surprised if Goodell is among them.
What are the owners going to do? What is Jones going to do?
The current silence is certainly not lost on 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman, who called out Jones specifically.
"It's not pulling them like it is the rest of the country," Sherman said to the San Francisco Chronicle. "Because if it was, then they'd speak. Jerry Jones, especially, has no problem speaking up any other time about anything else. But when it's such a serious issue, and he could really make a huge impact on it with a few words, his silence speaks volumes."
And it's regrettably coming across loud and clear for far too many.
So what is he going to say? And when is he going to say it?
We are all waiting.
Jones can no longer walk the fine line of supporting his players financially, but suppressing their voice on issues of social justice under the guise of doing what's best for the organization.
How he responds could go a long way toward impacting his legacy and how he will be remembered.
Jones is already a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is there largely because of how he runs the Cowboys and how he helped the NFL make billions.
To that end, his black players swear by him for his loyalty, forgiveness and the riches he has bestowed on them.
Now, he needs to let them, and all other players in the NFL be free to protest.
