Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones

Tight end and long snapper Jamar Hunt, a free agent who sustained a neck injury when the tentlike building fell during a rookie camp, is the first player to sue over the incident.

"It pretty much knocked him out of football altogether," said Hunt's lawyer, Michael Guajardo of Dallas.

The suit accuses Summit Structures LLC of Allentown, Pa., and its Canadian parent, DeMarcus Ware Cover-All Building Systems Inc., of poor design and construction of the facility.

It also says entities controlled by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would have discovered problems with the building had their outside engineers checked Summit and its related company's work. The Jones companies named in the lawsuit are Blue Felix Jones Star Development Co., Blue Star Land LP and Cowboys Center Ltd.

Hunt's filing also accuses Summit companies of misleading the Cowboys about the quality of repairs made to the building in 2008.

"This misrepresentation was a producing cause of the injuries sustained by Jamar Hunt," the suit says.

Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple said the team would not comment on the suit.

The 86-foot-tall practice facility fell apart during a thunderstorm in May 2009. Of about 70 people inside, 12 were injured as they tried to flee. Scouting assistant Rich Behm was paralyzed below the waist. Special teams coach Joe DeCamillis suffered a broken neck but was not paralyzed.

Behm and DeCamillis also sued Summit, Cover-All and the Jones companies. They settled out of court with Summit and Cover-All earlier this year. The terms of those agreements, which did not include the Jones companies, were not made public.

 

Dallas Cowboys jerseys Owner Jerry Jones remembered George Steinbrenner as an inspiration and "a true leader in sports."

The New York Yankees owner died Tuesday at age 80.

Jones — another of the most recognizable owners in sports — says Steinbrenner redefined professional sports ownership with his vision and passionate approach.