Jerry Jones is at it again.

The Dallas Cowboys' owner, who looks at the NFL like Newt Gingrich looks at government, is again trying to give more power to the individual teams.

First it was with separate licensing agreements that awaits its day in court, and now the oil magnet-turned-maverick has said the teams should take control of drug testing from the league.

Certainly, Jones has background in this area - three Cowboy players, as of yet unidentified, tested positive for drugs before last season, but because the tests were administered three days before the testing period began, they were ruled invalid and no action was taken against the players. Additionally, Dallas cornerback Clayton Holmes was suspended for the last nine games of the 1995 season for drug use, defensive lineman Leon Lett was given a midseason suspension after testing positive, and all-pro wide receiver Michael Irvin awaits a trial after a Dallas grand jury handed down two indictments against him for drug possession last month.

Okay, show of hands. How many people think this is a good idea? Thank you Mr. Irvin, you may put your hand down now.

Not only is this a bad idea, it's potentially dangerous.

Here's why. If teams had the power of punishing drug offenders as they see fit (as Jones recommends), what's to prevent teams from not punishing offenders? A little scenario: The Monday before the big game, Eddie Lineman tests positive for a banned substance, but the team forgets/overlooks/delays the results until after the game. The other team, however, does things by the books and suspends a player who tests positive. Is this fair? Nope.

And what would stop a team from announcing testing dates well in advance, like with enough time for an athlete's system to clear out any trace of a drug?

I'm not insinuating the NFL is made up of teams that would do anything to win, but any league with Al Davis, Art Modell and Jones in it make me nothing if not suspicious. Also, if a player has a problem and nothing is ever done about it, is there any impetus to make that player clean up and save him some trouble down the road? Nope.

Jones would also distinguish between marijuana and cocaine abuse, and perhaps go lighter on those testing positive for marijuana. This is great. By making those divisions in the severity of the crime, Jones would weaken an already tenuous program. C'mon, how serious is a program that has dates when testing can occur and can invalidate tests that occur three days before the time frame?

Say what you will about the NFL, about its lack of a spine on issues of expansion and franchise relocation, but it is essential drug testing remains the sole responsibility of the league. That is the only way to ensure uniform administration of tests and uniform punishments, so that no team can get an advantage.

And while I'm not saying Cowboy wide receiver Michael Irvin is guilty of the drug charges against him, Jones' statements certainly seem well-timed. It sure sounds to me like Jones is preparing to make the league look like the bad guys if they hand Irvin a tough penalty.

Patrick Klein is sports editor of the Arizona Daily Wildcat.