Jerry didn't invent NDAs. Every major corporation in America makes new employees sign a NDA as a condition of employment, and they agree to internal arbitration waiving the right to sue. Every corporation that issues such conditions is looking to protect the reputation of the company. These are not absolute of course but they are very common. I don't know if the Cowboys required this in 2016, but I know most large corporations have tons of cases like these on file. Some where there is obvious guilt by an employee and many where it is a he said - she said. I am not saying what Dalrymple allegedly did was okay. If he did it he should have been fired. But the NDA protects both parties. Right now for example, we are hearing what ESPN claims they found. Perhaps they spoke with the cheerleaders in question or someone close to the situation. But the NDA protects the sources of this information because the results of the Cowboys investigation are kept from the public the same way the cheerleaders testimony is by the NDA. Jerry can only say it was investigated and he took appropriate action because he cannot reveal the facts any more than the cheerleaders can.
BTW, the case involving the WFT is different than this one. In that case the Owner himself as well as a few executives were implicated by the accusations. The entire organization appeared to be accused. The Cowboys case involves one employee of the Cowboys, and not the rest of the organization. In any company in America a similar case would be investigated by the company and not an outside investigator.
As for the Cowboys paying off the cheerleaders, I am certain the Cheerleaders in question were offered the settlement to "settle the accusations". I am also sure they had attorneys representing them. At any point if they felt the conditions of the agreement we insufficient they could have demanded more from the Cowboys. They were not forced to sign the settlement agreement. Nor were the Cowboys forced to offer them the settlement. At that time both sides were satisfied with the arrangement.
Jerry is also partially correct. Accusations like this can tarnish and entire organization and the Cowboys Cheerleaders brand. The Cowboys Cheerleaders are special compared to the cheerleading squads of other teams. Of course he would want the accusations not to be public to protect the brand. That's a no brainer. I am pretty sure the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, who are their own brand, would feel the same way. I just don't agree it was done for the benefit of the fans.
Again, I am not defending Dalrymple. I am only suggesting we do not have all the facts. We should not jump to conclusions. And, the settlement and NDA are not unusual or unethical.