Atlanta Falcons Don’t Owe Julio Jones Any Damn Thing
The Atlanta Falcons are taking heat for not re-signing Julio Jones to a richer contract than the one he holds now. While teams are paying players left and right, the Falcons are holding their ground and they have every right. Jones signed a 5 yr-$71 million deal in 2015 and two years later, he wants an increase. Ok, I get it. Over those two years, Jones has established himself as one of the top two WRs in the NFL. However, it’s only been two years into a five-year deal.
While teams and players have done the same, is it really fair to criticize the Falcons for standing their ground? There were rumors that Jones will not report to camp unless he gets a new deal. For the record, I love watching Jones play but he should have known he was worth more when he signed that deal two years ago. This is not the Atlanta Falcons fault, this is all on Jones.
Breaking: Julio Jones will not report to Falcons camp on Thursday because he wants his contract re-worked, league sources tell ESPN’s @mortreport. pic.twitter.com/27lLvOigED
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) July 24, 2018
Should Julio Jones feel some type of way that the Falcons resigned their Coach Dan Quinn and GM Thomas Dimitroff? No, it was their time, not Jones’. Despite his success since entering the league, Jones signed a deal that put him at the top of the food chain as far as receivers go. But the NFL is a business and each year, players become free agents and Jones had to know that he would eventually get passed by another player. What he should’ve done was sign a 2-3 yr deal thus making him an FA now or next season.
By holding out, he was hurting no one but himself and his teammates. Does he deserve more money? Yes, but he has to wait to receive it. Some may argue the Todd Gurley situation but that was done on a rookie contract. Jones has been a model player his career and now he’s coming off a bit selfish.
BREAKING: Julio Jones will be in camp.
STORY – https://t.co/IoBJbxEfOa pic.twitter.com/FIcHJ57J9Z
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) July 26, 2018
What he has to remember here is that HE did this, not the Atlanta Falcons. Jones has been with the organization long enough to understand their policy regarding the restructuring of deals. So why all the offseason nonsense? Why would a player like Jones want to disrupt the team’s chemistry and make himself look like the bad guy when he doesn’t have to?
A new deal for Jones should not happen because what this will do is give the Atlanta Falcons a black eye and then cause a chain reaction with other players. The Falcons must stand their ground and if Jones decides to pout this year, then that’s his career he’s throwing away.
[BXReporter]
Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.
