The NFL fined Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones $250,000 for flipping off fans during the team’s win over the New York Jets this past Sunday.

This, despite Jones having publicly argued that the entire ordeal was simply an accident.

ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter first announced the big-time penalty on social media.

“NFL is fining Jerry Jones $250,000 for the self-described ‘unfortunate’ gesture he made Sunday to fans at MetLife Stadium,” he wrote.

Schefter and the network note that Jones may appeal. He has until Friday to do so.

Jerry Jones says it was an accident

As reported here at Bounding Into Sports, Jones tried arguing that he actually meant to give Cowboys fans a thumbs-up, not to give Jets fans a middle finger.

An argument that seemed rather specious.

“That was unfortunate,” Jones said in a radio interview after the game. “That was kind of an exchange with our fans out in front of us. There was a swarm of Cowboys fans out front. Not Jet fans, Cowboys fans. The entire stadium was brimming with the enthusiasm of the Cowboys, certainly late in the game.”

“That was inadvertent on my part. It was right after we made our last touchdown. We were all excited about it; there wasn’t an antagonistic issue or anything like that. I put up the wrong show of hand,” he insisted.

As also noted on these pages, it was more than likely that Jerry Jones was flailing desperately to provide some sort of excuse for his actions to avoid a fine from the league.

It clearly didn’t work.

READ MORE: Jerry Jones Explanation for Obscene Gesture is Wild

Fighting precedent

Jones was always going to have a tough time avoiding the fine. One, his explanation is kind of ridiculous. And two, there is precedent in the form of former Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams.

Adams, in 2009, flipped a double-bird while celebrating a win against the Buffalo Bills.

He owned it, however, stating, “Oh, I knew I was going to get in trouble for that. I was just so happy we won.”

Jones could argue that he deserved only half that amount, considering he only used one of his middle fingers.

All of it is a little absurd when you consider the language that can be heard during game broadcasts, things we’ve seen on shows like Hard Knocks, and other incidents owners have found themselves involved in.

Last year, Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper was fined $300,000 after a video surfaced showing him throwing a drink in the direction of Jacksonville Jaguars fans.

Think about that for a minute. Jerry Jones and Bud Adams were fined almost the same amount for a meaningless gesture as the guy who could have started a brawl and been brought up on charges for throwing a drink at someone.