Jerry Jones put his foot down Sunday, squarely on the necks of his beloved Cowboys.

If you don't stand for the anthem, he said after Sunday's 35-31 loss to the Packers, you're going to sit. Period. No "disrespecting the flag," not on Jerry's watch.

As for players disrespecting women, well, he'll let a court of appeals take a stand on that one.

Let's get this straight: Jerry delivers an unequivocal warning to his players, telling them in no uncertain terms they'll sit if they kneel. Funny thing is, as far as we know, not one Cowboy had so much as hinted at joining the protest. Didn't matter to Jerry. He's sending a star-spangled message.

"We're going to respect the flag," he said, "and I'm going to create the perception of it."

And what about the perception that he'll take chances on players with more baggage than a DFW carousel, including allegations of domestic violence?

Greg Hardy? Zeke Elliott? Jourdan Lewis?

Not only did Jerry draft or sign all of the above despite accusations of some type of abuse, he defended them. Said the organization had done its due diligence. Told us he was so sure of Zeke's innocence, there would be no penalty.

Their guilt or innocence isn't the point, at least in today's topic. No Cowboy has knelt during the anthem, either, and it didn't keep Jerry from preaching. The point is, he could have used any number of opportunities he's created by gambling on talent to issue an ultimatum on domestic violence. If for no other reason, just to show he gets it, no matter what his actions say. Also, it might even raise the bar a bit in the locker room on what will be tolerated.

Because when the owner who's coddled you all this time suddenly barks, it gets your attention.

Do me a favor: Read the following quote from Jerry, and every time it says "the flag," imagine it reads "women" instead.

"If there is anything that is disrespectful to the flag, then we will not play. You understand? If we are disrespecting the flag, then we won't play.

"Period."

Not once have I heard Jerry warn his players so emphatically that they won't play if they disrespect women. And, unlike domestic violence, a sizable segment of the population sympathizes with Colin Kaepernick's protest.

Frankly, I thought Jerry had gotten this anthem thing out of his system back in Glendale, when he and his family and players all knelt, then, when the music started, stood with arms interlocked. The gesture might not have seemed like much on TV, but talking to the players afterward, my respect grew. You couldn't listen to Jason Witten, in particular, without appreciating the outcome. He'd always stand with his hand over his heart, Witten said, but he appreciated the views of his teammates as well. And together they arrived at common ground, a lesson in civility in these aggravated times.

Since then, a couple of Cowboys, David Irving and Damontre Moore, have raised fists near the end of the anthem. Asked about their actions Sunday, they didn't offer much in the way of explanation or justification. If you're going to protest something, it seems like you ought to be able to say why.

Jerry didn't comment on where he stands on raised fists, but I'm guessing if it becomes a national talking point, he'll issue another ultimatum.

He's fairly animated on this protest, and we can only speculate as to why. Is it simply his own brand of patriotism? Or does Jerry, the master businessman, think it plays to sponsors and season-ticket holders?

Either way, he's certainly made his position plain, and I'd be shocked if any of his players cross him.

"The whole deal is political and incited by politics," he said Sunday. "But let me be real, real clear: The thing that the National Football League needs to do and the Dallas Cowboys are going to do is stand for the flag."

As for whatever else they may stand for, he'll apparently leave that up to your imagination.