NFL players are often disgruntled about the contract they sign but never seem to keep that same energy when the CBA talks come around.
Every year you have situations like Julio Jones where a player signed a long-term deal, and a few years later, he feels like he is being underpaid because someone else got a better, more lucrative deal.
According to Arthur Blank, even though they got it worked out with Jones, he was never the same after that.
Blank, who briefly spoke on Jones’ departure at the outset of training camp, went far deeper on the subject in an interview with The Athletic on Tuesday, saying he was perplexed by why Jones felt disrespected by the organization, acknowledged that the player’s relationship with some “in the building” had frayed and that Jones’ infrequent availability to practice had become a significant issue with the front office and coaches.
“He just wasn’t … Look, he gave us 10 great years. He’s going to be a Hall of Fame player. He was a good teammate for all that period of time. (But) his ability or willingness to practice the way he did early in his career was different. There were some people who were in the building who had an effect on him. He wanted out, and the last thing coach (Arthur) Smith wants is a player who doesn’t want to be here.”
In 2019, Jones signed a 3-year $66 million contract extension that the Falcons hope would appease him. He will collect all that money, but you know once a relationship is broken, it is hard to put it back together.
He was traded to the Titans this offseason for a 2nd and 4th round pick.
The Titans can cut him and move on if he doesn’t perform this season, so a lot is riding on his performance this year.
Flip the page for more of the behind the scenes drama that happened between Jones and Falcons.
