NFL notebook: Owners rebuke Jones for detrimental conduct

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been informed by other NFL owners via letter that he is engaging in “conduct detrimental to the league’s best interests,” the New York Times reported Thursday.

The letter was sent to Jones through his attorney, David Boies, on Wednesday, one day after Jones expressed publicly that he had no intention of halting his efforts to prevent NFL commissioner Roger Goodell from receiving a contract extension.

Jones has threatened to sue the NFL if the extension is approved by the six-owner compensation committee, headed by Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank.

The letter accuses Jones of sabotaging the negotiations in the latest round of the escalating feud between Jones and Goodell. Jones is suspected of sharing outdated documents about negotiations with Goodell to other owners.

It was revealed last weekend that Goodell requested a salary of approximately $49.5 million, a private jet and lifetime health insurance for his family last August. Goodell’s contract expires in 2018.

–Cleveland Browns wide receiver Corey Coleman will return from injured reserve for Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, coach Hue Jackson said.

Coleman has been sidelined since breaking a bone in his hand in a 24-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 17. The former first-round pick was placed on injured reserve but later was designated to return by the Browns (0-9).

Coleman has encountered obstacles since being selected with the 15th overall pick in the 2016 draft. He suffered a different broken bone in his hand during his rookie season and finished with 33 receptions and three touchdowns.

–Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith sat out Thursday’s practice with groin and back issues.

After missing practice on consecutive days, Smith’s availability is in question for the Cowboys (5-4) in Sunday’s home game against the NFC East-leading Philadelphia Eagles (8-1).

Smith’s absence was felt during last Sunday’s 27-7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, as Dak Prescott was sacked eight times — including on six occasions by defensive end Adrian Clayborn.

–Jacksonville Jaguars rookie wide receiver Dede Westbrook has great expectations heading into his potential NFL debut on Sunday against the winless Cleveland Browns.

Westbrook, who could be activated off injured reserve this week following core muscle surgery, offered the following to “Teal & Black Blitz” on SportsRadio 930 Wednesday:

“My expectations are high,” Westbrook said. “I always set the standard high for myself. For me, and this has nothing to do with the Cleveland Browns at all, but my expectation is a 200-yard receiving game. Of course that’s going to come with me and Blake (Bortles) being on the same page most of the game, but at the end of the day, that’s the expectations that I have for myself this weekend.”

–The New Orleans Saints have secured the services of Mike Westhoff to oversee the club’s special teams units, coach Sean Payton said.

Coaches Bradford Banta and Kevin O’Dea will remain on staff to work with Westhoff, who retired from the NFL after the 2012 season with the New York Jets. The 69-year-old is expected to remain with the Saints until the end of this season.

The Saints (7-2) are riding high on a seven-game winning streak, but the club has endured stumbles from its special teams. New Orleans resides 30th in the league in punt return average and 28th in kickoff return average.

–The Arizona Cardinals promoted tackle/guard Vinston Painter from the practice squad to the active roster, the team announced.

Painter, who was on the active roster and played in Week 4, re-signed with the team’s practice squad on Oct. 3. The 6-foot-4, 322-pound Painter has appeared in nine NFL regular-season games — five with the Washington Redskins last season and three with the Cleveland Browns in 2014.