The Falcons are “working intensively” on a new contract for wide receiver Julio Jones, according to Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Atlanta is open to “creatively addressing” Jones’ planned salary for 2018, which sits at $10.5MM.
Earlier this week, reports surfaced indicating Jones would be holding out from the Falcons’ training camp after requesting an “adjusted” contract in May. Thus far, Atlanta has not shown an inclination to give Jones any sort of an alteration, and were reportedly focused on new deals for players like Grady Jarrett, Jake Matthews, and Ricardo Allen.
Jones helped reset the wide receiver market in 2015 by inking a five-year, $71.25MM extension with Atlanta, tying him to the club through the 2020 campaign. However, Jones’ $14.25MM average salary now ranks just ninth among NFL wideouts, behind fellow pass-catchers such as Davante Adams, Jarvis Landry, and Sammy Watkins.
In 2017, Jones snagged 83 balls en route to finishing third in the league in receiving yards per game. The 29-year-old Jones has been to four straight Pro Bowls and has two first-team All-Pro nods under his belt. Once his contract is squared away, he’ll once top an Atlanta depth chart that now includes Calvin Ridley in additional to Mohamed Sanu.
Oh man…if Atlanta caves now every player that has a good season will hold out regardless of years left on their contracts and point to this….bad move Atlanta.
Agree 100%, this guy has 3 years left on his deal which at the time made him the highest paid at his position. If Julio wanted to renegotiate every 2-3 years he shoulda signed a 2-3 year deal, but he wanted “long term security”. You can’t (maybe he can) have your cake and eat it too Julio. This guy is coming off like a baby. Earl Thomas I understand, he’s playing this season basically on a 1 year deal, and if he gets suffers a significant injury has little to no market for next season. Julio on the other hand has 3 years remaining. Bad president ATL, whats next sign a 5 yr deal and sit out after year 1?
I think this will just be a re-structuring with no real significant change in the overall contract value. You may see this as a bad move but an even worst one in my opinion is not to reward your best player. That demoralizes the whole team because the other players quickly realize their own efforts will never be rewarded either.
Not to mention, I’d love to know how many of the fans and commentators complaining about players asking to renegotiate their contracts ever complain about teams demanding players restructure their deals? What’s good for the goose should be good for the gander.
Give him $5MM in incentives a year for the next three years. Make him keep earning it. If he’s the best WR in the game, then he will be paid like one.
So it’s safe to assume that, had he played more poorly than expected, he’d be right there asking to give some of the money back?
If he played poorly they would cut him 3yrs left. Even if guys to do perform teams still cut them, b/c the contracts aren’t guaranteed
Your referring to average players but once a player attains “all pro” status your going to have to guarantee a percentage of the contract money to keep him from testing the open market. The player doesn’t have to guarantee anything in the way of future performance though and that is why GMs are sometimes to reluctant to provide long term deals.
“Rarely” do contracts come with any guaranteed $ other than signing bonuses and low base salaries. It does happen though. I have no problem with guys asking for more when they outperform, or lesser guys start passing them up. Even stars get cut with years remaining on contract.
See Josh Sitton and Jonathan Hankins this off-season, for example.