Chris Jones hasn’t been shy about tweeting through his contract dispute with the Kansas City Chiefs and posted a famous quote attributed to 19th-century poet Ralph Waldo Emerson on Friday that left fans a bit puzzled.
⌛️⌛️ pic.twitter.com/gHuTDBaj1W
— Chris Jones (@StoneColdJones) August 11, 2023
The quote’s true origin is unclear, as there is no proof that Emerson ever wrote the words in the post, but even murkier is Jones’ intention behind broadcasting the dubiously sourced adage.
Perhaps this is an indication that he intends to continue his holdout until he sees a contract offer commensurate with what “lies within him”, or maybe Jones is signaling that the ongoing contract dispute is irrelevant given his self-perceived value.
Jones’ use of hourglass emojis adds another layer of uncertainty, as the concept of time (i.e. what lies behind and before) seems to be at odds with the point of the quote, which is more a commentary on introspection and self-actualization than anything.
Could it be that Jones is ready to return to the team despite the lingering uncertainty surrounding his future because he is self-actualized? Is he signaling that the offers he has received from the Chiefs are “tiny matters” compared to what “lies within” him? Did he just like the quote?
Poetry, like cryptic social media posts, is open to interpretation, and at this point, there’s no telling exactly what Jones meant with the tweet. What is certain, though, is that fans should expect more social media tomfoolery from the star defensive lineman in the days to come.
