Kansas City Chiefs DT Chris Jones aims to bring 2024 scheduling gripe before NFLPA this offseason
The Kansas City Chiefs will get an extended rest after playing against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 13 on Black Friday. They'll have nine days between the win and their Week 14 tilt with the Los Angeles Chargers on "Sunday Night Football." Asked about the early-season bye week and how much this slight break means, Chiefs […]
The Kansas City Chiefs will get an extended rest after playing against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 13 on Black Friday. They'll have nine days between the win and their Week 14 tilt with the Los Angeles Chargers on "Sunday Night Football."
Asked about the early-season bye week and how much this slight break means, Chiefs DT Chris Jones laid out a concept of a plan to bring a 2024 NFL schedule gripe before the NFL Player's Association.
"Hey, listen, man, this is one thing I'm doing this offseason," Jones said. "I'm going to the NFLPA, especially with us having like three games in a 10-day span, that we make it mandatory to have a late bye week. You know what I mean? Because with our schedule, it's kind of awkward, to say the least. We play three games in 10 days. Then we got a Christmas game coming up four days after that, we got another game. You know what I mean?
The stretch of games in question:
- Dec. 15 vs. the Cleveland Browns
- Dec. 21 vs. the Houston Texans
- Dec. 25 vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers
Jones believes playing so many games in such a short period late in the season should take them (and any other team in this scenario) out of the running to have an early season bye week (or vice versa). The Chiefs had their bye week back in Week 6.
"So, I think that's a conversation to be had this offseason," Jones continued. "If a team has somewhat of a schedule like that, they have a mandatory late-season bye. Like, we don't need a Week 4 bye. Like, what are we getting a bye for? Then, if you are counting how far we go in the previous season, we've gone to the championship in the last three to four years. It's like we don't need a week for a bye. Give it to us in Week 8 or Week 10, something like that."
One thing people don't often consider with Kansas City and their players is the wear and tear from extended postseason runs for the past five seasons. They've essentially played a full season's worth of playoff games in that span. It takes a toll on players and their bodies. Bringing this to the NFLPA certainly can't hurt. It'll only help improve the product on the field and keep players safe long term.
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