Julio Jones
ATLANTA—Julio Jones has responded in kind to the front office’s apparent bombshell of neither budgeting an imminent contract extension nor short-term salary bump for the All-Pro receiver.
According to NFL.com, Jones plans to miss the beginning of training camp (players report on Thursday night) and would be ‘comfortable’ with sitting out that entire period in July and August, if the Falcons don’t renegotiate his existing contract.
The whole ‘Will Julio show?’ topic has been a national conversation for the last three months, starting with the later-confirmed whispers of Jones skipping the team’s Organized Team Activities workouts in May and mandatory minicamp in mid-June.
So, in that vein, Jones’ major gamble for training camp shouldn’t be a major surprise to ardent NFL followers, especially those living in Atlanta.
Of course, things certainly get more expensive from here.
**The Falcons still reserve the right to fine Jones nearly $85,000 for missing the three-day minicamp.
**Training camp fines, however, can be as high as $40,000 per day with vested veterans.
Is Jones (four-year average: 103 catches, 1,579 yards, 6 TDs) willing to risk at least $800,000 in fines for missing all of training camp?
By extension, are the Falcons prepared to levy such a huge cumulative penalty against arguably their greatest playmaker—knowing it could fracture the relationship, long-term?
Jones, who signed a five-year, $71.26 million extension in 2015, has three years left on his existing deal. For the 2018 season, he’ll garner a base salary of $10.5 million (source: Spotrac.com).
At the NFL owners meetings in May, taking place in suburban Buckhead, Atlanta owner Arthur Blank expressed optimism Jones would remain a Falcon For Life.
“I love Julio. He loves me. He loves Atlanta. He’s going to be here forever,” Blank told 11Alive Sports reporter Alex Glaze, during an impromptu and exclusive one-on-one chat.
Regarding Jones’ supposed demand for a new or ‘updated’ contract, Blank kept it simple two months ago:
Blank on Jones: ‘He’s going to be a Falcon for life’
Falcons owner Arthur Blank was undeterred about the news that star wide receiver Julio Jones plans to sit out of training camp.
Blank still believes that Jones will be a “Falcon for life” and he doesn’t plan to get involved in the negotiations at this time. Jones plans to hold out in a contract dispute after he missed voluntary and mandatory sessions this summer.
Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Dan Quinn are co-leaders of the football operations.
“That’s their job and it’s my job to support them,” Blank said when reached on his cell phone in New York on Tuesday. “If they need help, they’ll ask for it. I’m always available to them and they know it.”
The Falcons are set to report to camp on Thursday. The first practice is scheduled for Friday.
“He’s going to be a Falcon for life,” Blank said. “I’m convinced of that and so is he. We’ll take it from there. But we are all focused on the same thing. I think that we are in good shape.”
The Falcons told Jones they have not budgeted for a renegotiation this offseason and are focused on contract extensions for defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, left tackle Jake Matthews and free safety Ricardo Allen.
Jones was informed of the team’s decision several weeks ago, following the mandatory minicamp in June. Jones was also told the team may be willing to rework his contract next year, one year before they typically work on extensions.
Written By Quincy Rogers
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