At this week’s annual NFL owners meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones didn’t hold back during his media session. With the league juggling contract disputes and an ever-growing national spotlight, Jones addressed a variety of hot-button issues – including a memorable dig at former NBA owner Mark Cuban.
Jones also tackled internal Cowboys matters, such as the ongoing contract stalemate involving receiver George Pickens and the team’s kicker Brandon Aubrey, whose contract situation has drawn significant attention from fans and analysts alike. While these team-specific discussions generated plenty of headlines, Jones‘ comments on league-wide developments quickly captured the spotlight.
The NFL’s scheduling has evolved dramatically over the last decade. Once restricted to Sundays and Monday nights, the league now spreads games across multiple days of the week. Black Friday matchups, Christmas Day contests, and even a new Wednesday night kickoff game have been added to the calendar.
This expansion has transformed football into a dominant presence across the fall and winter sports schedule, often overshadowing other leagues and events. While some fans and critics question whether the league has pushed the calendar too far, the NFL’s television ratings tell a different story.
Not everyone has welcomed these changes, and one particularly memorable critique came from the sports world’s own Mark Cuban.
Southern response to an old critique
Back in 2014, Cuban, then majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks, issued a pointed remark about the NFL’s tendency to expand its schedule: “Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered.” Cuban‘s comment suggested that overreaching, or taking on too much, could eventually backfire on the league.
Fast forward to 2026, and Jerry Jones has a sharp, folksy rebuttal. When asked about the NFL’s crowded calendar and expanded game days, Jones delivered a classic Texan metaphor: “When a duck quacks, feed it,” he said, as reported by The Athletic’s Jon Machota.
Jones explained that this approach reflects the league’s philosophy: if fans are clamoring for more football, the NFL is committed to giving it to them.
Jones‘ statement underscores a simple truth – the NFL’s popularity remains unmatched. Despite occasional complaints from other sports figures or traditionalists, the NFL continues to dominate television ratings and fan engagement. Its ability to capture attention across holidays, weekdays, and primetime slots demonstrates the league’s unmatched cultural and commercial influence.
As the NFL continues to grow, it’s clear that while critics like Cuban may raise concerns, Jerry Jones and the league are confident in their strategy.
