IRVING – The Dallas Cowboys will not have cornerback Adam Jones for at least the next four games.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Jones indefinitely without pay and will determine the length of suspension following the Nov. 16 game at Washington.

According to the league's release, "The decision on whether Jones can return to play will be based on Jones' strict compliance with his NFL and Dallas Cowboys treatment plans as well as on evaluations of Jones' progress that will be provided to Commissioner Goodell by clinical experts retained by the NFL."

In a letter sent to Jones, Goodell called the incident last week in a Hotel Joule bathroom with a team-issued bodyguard an "alcohol-related physical altercation" and was "a disturbing pattern of behavior and clearly inconsistent with the conditions I set for your continued participation in the NFL."

The suspension will cost Jones $41,176 a week.

After concluding their own investigation, the Cowboys did not impose any discipline on Jones, calling it joking that went too far. Jones and bodyguard Tommy Jones met independently with NFL security last week.

Last Friday, owner and general manager Jerry Jones said talk of a possible suspension was "ridiculous," but Goodell was clear with Jones after reinstating him in August that trouble of any kind could lead to more discipline.

Jones finished serving a 17-month suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy in August, although he was granted a partial reinstatement in June that carried through training camp.

Since entering the league in 2005, Jones has been arrested six times and police have been called to 13 incidents, with the most recent being his first trouble since being traded to the Cowboys.

Because of the suspension, the Cowboys will receive Tennessee's fifth-round pick in next year's draft to complete the teams’ April trade. Had Jones made it through the season without any problems, the Cowboys would have surrendered their 2009 sixth-round pick to the Titans.

Jones has started every game this season and leads the Cowboys with 11 pass deflections. He also has 27 tackles and is averaging 5 yards per punt return.

Without Jones and Terence Newman, who is recovering from surgery, the Cowboys will have rookies Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick see an increased role. Alan Ball, a seventh-round pick in 2007, will also play more.