Latest update on Chiefs DT Chris Jones' holdout saga
Kansas City Chiefs DT Chris Jones has missed a whopping 10 training camp practices as of Thursday.Jones is holding out as he seeks a long-term contract extension in the final year of his current four-year deal. He's coming off an All-Pro season where he was the team's sack leader, one of the best defensive linemen […]
Kansas City Chiefs DT Chris Jones has missed a whopping 10 training camp practices as of Thursday.
Jones is holding out as he seeks a long-term contract extension in the final year of his current four-year deal. He's coming off an All-Pro season where he was the team's sack leader, one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL, and helped the team secure their second Super Bowl title in the past four years.
The former second-round draft pick has already incurred $500K worth of fines as mandated by the NFL and NFLPA's collective bargaining agreement. He stands to be fined $50K per day with each additional practice missed.
With no end to Jones' holdout in sight, many are beginning to question the timeline for his rejoining the team. Speaking on the Pat McAfee Show, ESPN's Dianna Russini revealed that the Chiefs remain optimistic a deal will get done.
"I had a conversation with someone this morning that is involved in the negotiations and they still feel really optimistic they're going to get it done," Russini said. "Like, the number Chris Jones wants, it's a big number. But the Chiefs, every conversation that I've had with them over the last few months has been nothing but understanding his value, understanding his role on the team. 'We want to get this done. We feel good we're going to get this done. We're optimistic.' It's one of those where I think it feels a little icky right now, but I think it's going to work out by the time we get to the third, or fourth week of camp here."
Russini noted that there hasn't been the same sense of urgency in this negotiation as in others around the league because Jones isn't a player who necessarily needs to be at training camp. At the same time, she states the Chiefs were caught off guard when Jones didn't report alongside his veteran teammates.
"That threw a wrench," she said. "They weren't expecting him not to show up. That was where it did get a little off track, but the sense I get is like, it'll get done. Chris wants to be there. They want Chris there."
However, Russini didn't deny that negotiations with Jones could again go off course. His latest cryptic messages on social media might suggest that they already have.
Only time will tell if Jones remains in Kansas City on a long-term deal, but the latest would suggest that we're still some time away from a deal being met.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes hopeful Chris Jones’ holdout ends ‘as soon as possible’
Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes has maintained contact with DT Chris Jones and hopes that he returns to training camp “as soon as possible.”
Featured image via Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
