Cowboy Owner: Ismail Has CFL Escape Clause

The owner of the Dallas Cowboys says Raghib (Rocket) Ismail has a clause in his four-year contract with the Toronto Argonauts that will let him leave the Canadian Football League after one year.

If he stays in Canada for the full four years of the contract, Argonaut owner Bruce McNall, who also owns the NHL Kings, has guaranteed him $18.2 million.

The Raiders own the NFL rights to Ismail, having drafted him in the fourth round Sunday.

“We knew he had the right to get out of the contract,” Cowboy owner Jerry Jones told The National in Wednesday’s editions. “. . . I don’t even think there is a buyout. My understanding was that he had a simple escape, that he could go year-to-year on it.”

The Cowboys acquired the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft from New England to select Ismail, but he chose McNall’s much bigger financial offer.

Sue Waks, McNall’s chief financial officer, confirmed that Ismail could eventually go to the NFL, but expects him to remain with the Argonauts.

“Bruce is on the record as saying he wouldn’t stand in Rocket’s way but Rocket himself and Bruce have said that this is a four-year contract and we expect it to run that long,” Waks said.

Waks also said there is no way the Cowboys’ representatives could have seen the contract or know its contents.

“In all honesty, the contract was not finished until it was typed in my office late on Saturday night and then it was taken to Rocket to sign and I don’t believe that anyone knows what is in it,” Waks said. “Rocket said some people in the NFL couldn’t accept the fact the he signed with us but at some point they’re going to let it go.”

Jones gave the impression the Cowboys could have still drafted Ismail. “It was a matter of pulling the trigger and (Raider owner) Al Davis pulled it before we did,” Jones said.