Tag: holdout

ESPN’s Dianna Russini gives deep dive on Chris Jones contract negotiations

ESPN’s Dianna Russini gave listeners an in-depth update on Chris Jones’ contract negotiations with the #Chiefs during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show. | from: @LazarczykLogan

ESPN reporter Dianna Russini made an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Thursday and gave a thorough update on Chris Jones’ contract negotiations with the Kansas City Chiefs.

“I had a conversation with someone this morning that’s involved in negotiations — they still feel really optimistic [that] they are going to get it done,” Russini said. “The number Chris Jones wants is — it’s a big number, it’s a big number.”

Although Jones’ asking price is steep, Russini made it clear that her sources within the Chiefs organization were optimistic that a deal will eventually get done.

“Every conversation I have had with [Chiefs sources] over the last few months has been nothing but – understanding his value, understanding his role on this team, we want to get this done, we feel good we are going to get this done, we are optimistic,” Russini continued. “That’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 at least the third, fourth week of camp here.”

Kansas City had its ring ceremony in June, and many people inside the organization were confident that Jones would be present for the celebratory occasion. However, he wasn’t, and Russini said that his absence was a surprise for his coaches and teammates.

“Going back to the ring [ceremony] I attended with the Chiefs a few months ago, and talking to them, they were like, ‘We will get it done’, Andy [Reid] was like ‘Chris will show up’, and then he didn’t show up,” Russini explained. “That threw a wrench. They weren’t expecting him not to show up. That’s where it did get a little off track.”

Russini still feels that everyone involved wants to get a long-term deal done before the season starts.

“The sense I get, it will get done, Chris wants to be there, they want Chris there,” Russini said. “Look, could it go off track? Yeah, of course. We have seen it happen.”

Jones is under contract this season with a $28 million price tag, which is enough to make him the second-highest-paid player on Kansas City’s roster. With an extension, that price would come down a bit and open up some cap space. The Chiefs have the second-least cap space in the league with just $562,000.

The most important thing for both sides at this juncture, though, is that a contract extension is finalized before the season. Neither party will benefit if Jones misses time as Kansas City looks to defend its Super Bowl title.

‘Zero concerns’: McCarthy not worried about Cowboys RG Zack Martin’s readiness

From @ToddBrock24f7: The 8x-Pro Bowler’s absence is now in its 10th day, despite texting his linemates, “Y’all set the tone, I’ll be there soon.”

The Cowboys have been in Oxnard for just over a week. Thursday’s practice- the longest yet of this year’s training camp- was to be the team’s third session with pads and an important building block in the foundation that the team is trying to lay with a new offensive play-caller, several new members of the coaching staff, and new players up and down the roster.

But despite the cornerstone of the offensive line entering the 10th day of his contract holdout, head coach Mike McCarthy maintains he’s not worried about Zack Martin’s absence.

“I have zero concerns about Zack,” McCarthy told reporters during a press conference Thursday. “Everything that we’re doing here now, Zack already has. Zack will be just fine.”

The six-time first-team All-Pro has elected not to join the team in Oxnard as of yet, unhappy with where he sits on the pay scale relative to the other top offensive guards around the league.

The 32-year-old is staying busy and keeping himself in shape, though. A video shared recently on social media by OL Masterminds shows Martin working out with the organization’s Duke Manyweather in Texas.

And second-year lineman Tyler Smith revealed to media members that Martin is in regular contact with his linemates via text. His message to the group?

“Y’all set the tone, I’ll be there soon.”

Mike Solari, the veteran offensive line coach entering his first year in that role for the Cowboys would certainly prefer to have Martin in his usual spot, but he’s making the best of the situation by giving younger players valuable practice reps.

“We want Zack here, but it’s part of the business,” Solari said per the team website. “It gives another man an opportunity to get reps in practice and develop. They’re all competing and working hard. The best five will start, and they’ll define that role. It’s a good group.”

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Josh Ball, the 2021 fourth-round draft pick, and Matt Farniok, a seventh-rounder from that same rookie class, have seen time at right guard in place of Martin. And while their continued development at camp is a good thing, no one- especially quarterback Dak Prescott- wants either of them to have to line up on Sept. 10 when the Cowboys face the Giants to open the regular season.

Like McCarthy, Prescott should have no real concerns about Martin being ready for Week 1 whenever he and the front office settle their staring contest.

But No. 4 was succinct when he was asked about getting his most valuable protector back in the huddle.

“Pay the man.”

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Chiefs Patrick Mahomes on Chris Jones’ holdout: ‘Hopefully, we get him back in camp as soon as possible.’

Patrick Mahomes told reporters that he has stayed in touch with Chris Jones and hopes to get him back with the #Chiefs “as soon as possible” | from: @LazarczykLogan

The Kansas City Chiefs would not have two Super Bowl victories without Chris Jones’ presence and playmaking ability on the field. Though his contributions to the team have been vital to their success in recent years, Jones is currently in a contract dispute with the Chiefs and has not yet reported to training camp.

There is no timetable for when the negotiations will materialize into a new deal for the 29-year-old defensive tackle, who is still on Kansas City’s books through the 2023 season.

Despite that, quarterback Patrick Mahomes has stayed in touch with the star defensive lineman, and told reporters on Wednesday that he hopes that an agreement on an extension for Jones will be finalized before the regular season.

“I talk to Chris [Jones], not necessarily about contract stuff – that’s how I am about all things – I never talk about the contract,” the reigning MVP explained. “I just talk about football and how he is doing. He is working out, he is staying in shape. All that [contract negotiations] will handle itself, and all I can do is be supportive, be a [good] teammate. That’s one of the guys [who has] been a staple of this organization for a long time. Hopefully, we get him back in camp as soon as possible.”

Coming off a season where he collected 15.5 sacks and 37 tackles, Jones is seeking a contract that will make him the second-highest-paid player in the NFL at his position. It has been reported by The Athletic’s Nate Taylor, that the four-time pro bowler is seeking $30 million per season.

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Chris Jones fine tracker: Star DL faces steep penalties for training camp holdout

Chris Jones has accrued fines of at least $400,000 if not more as he patiently waits for a breakthrough in negotiations with the #Chiefs.

Chris Jones is a force of nature on the Kansas City Chiefs defensive line. His presence makes the team’s front-four one of the NFL’s best, and Jones knows his worth as his holdout from Chiefs training camp bleeds into its second week.

Players face steep penalties for holdouts like the one Jones is currently undertaking. He faces fines of $50,000 per day that he misses Kansas City’s practice sessions in St. Joseph, Missouri, and at that rate, will need to foot a bill of well over $400,000 for his absences to this point.

That total accounts for $50,000 for each day missed since veterans reported to camp on Saturday, July 22, and assumes that he had until 11:59 p.m. to show up at Missouri Western State University’s campus before the first fine went into effect.

It also assumes that Jones is not facing penalties for the days that the team has not practiced, which were Thursday, July 27, and Tuesday, August 1. If Jones is being fined for non-practice days, the total cost of his holdout through today (Tuesday, August 1) would be an even $500,000 for 10 days missed.

Though this figure is sure to be eye-watering for those who don’t have that kind of money just lying around, it would constitute just under 2% of his total cap number for the 2023 season, which is $28,291,668, according to the quants at overthecap.com.

Needless to say, Jones can continue holding out for as long as he wants, though the effectiveness of his negotiation strategy with Brett Veach has certainly left his fans wanting as his holdout looms over the Chiefs’ training camp process.

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Taco Tuesday: 49ers sign former Saints defensive end

Taco Tuesday: San Francisco 49ers sign former New Orleans Saints defensive end Taco Charlton

One former New Orleans Saints player landed a new gig this week, with defensive end Taco Charlton signing onto the San Francisco 49ers’ training camp roster. His arrival coincides with a holdout by 49ers star pass rusher Nick Bosa, bringing the 49ers some added pass-rush potential as they prepare for their preseason games.

Charlton spent last summer with the Saints and initially started the regular season on their practice squad, but he was poached by the Chicago Bears in November. He joined the Jacksonville Jaguars in time for their January playoff run but had to wait through the first week of training camp practices before finding his next opportunity.

Originally a first-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2017 NFL draft, Charlton has appeared in 60 games on seven different teams in his six-year career, including stints on practice squads around the league. The former Michigan Wolverine has totaled 11.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss in his pro career.

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Chris Jones posts cryptic tweets as holdout continues

Star defensive lineman Chris Jones seems to be at a standstill in negotiations with the #Chiefs as training camp moves into its second week.

Chris Jones’ status will be a top storyline to monitor as the Kansas City Chiefs move into their second week of training camp in St. Joseph, Missouri. The team has been hard at work preparing for the season but is without its top defender as Jones, who is in the final year of his contract, seeks an extension.

Jones is the second-highest-paid player on the Chiefs behind quarterback Patrick Mahomes and is rumored to be asking for $30 million or more per year in his next deal.

The star defensive lineman posted some cryptic tweets over the weekend, but it is unclear whether they had anything to do with his holdout.

The veracity of information out there regarding Jones’ specific demands isn’t clear, but it is a fact that the star defensive lineman has held out from training camp to give himself leverage in negotiations with general manager Brett Veach.

For now, it seems all Kansas City fans can do is wait for a resolution and hope that one of the players who reported to St. Joseph can step up to fill his shoes should the stalemate last through August and into the regular season.

Chiefs LB Willie Gay: Despite Chris Jones absence, defense is ‘rolling’ in training camp

#Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay told reporters on Friday that Kansas City’s defense is “rolling” in St. Joseph despite Chris Jones’ absence.

Chris Jones’ contract situation has remained one of the biggest storylines during the early phases of the Kansas City Chiefs’ 2023 training camp.

The 29-year-old defensive tackle is entering the final year of his contract and is seeking an extension that will make him at least the second-highest-paid player at his position.

It was reported by Nate Taylor of The Athletic earlier this week that Kansas City is “at a stalemate” in their negotiations with Jones, who is said to be asking for $30 million per season. If that is the case and Jones is, in fact, seeking that much money, the All-Pro pass rusher’s holdout could persist for the foreseeable future.

Jones is overwhelmingly likely to play in 2023, but the question remains if he will do so on a new contract or not.

Despite Jones’ absence from training camp, linebacker Willie Gay told reporters on Friday that he feels the Chiefs’ defense is in a good spot as they prepare for the coming season at Missouri Western State University.

“We’ve been rolling,” Gay explained of the defense’s progression. “We all know [that] Chris Jones [has not been here], but we’ve been rolling. With him, of course, we will be a great defense. But, while we are here and while things are the way they are, we are going to ball out.”

If and when Jones reports to training camp, Gay expects that the veteran defensive tackle will make a major impact. However, while Jones is still gone, Kansas City’s defensive players are maintaining focus on their individual roles and responsibilities within coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s system.

“[Jones will] add a big piece, a big piece that we hope to have,” Gay continued later in his comments to the media. “I mean, we can’t be out here thinking – dang, I wish Chris [Jones] was here – but we just have to handle things the way they are and roll with it.”

Jones’ contract situation with the Chiefs will continue to be a major talking point until he arrives at the team’s training camp in St. Joseph. But, until the negotiations are concluded, the Chiefs’ defensive personnel will have to operate without their superstar teammate on the field.

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Chiefs DE George Karlaftis spoke about practicing without Chris Jones at training camp

Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis talked about practicing without Chris Jones in comments made to reporters on Wednesday. | from: @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs got some downright outstanding play from their 2022 rookie class on both sides of the ball last season. The group produced many memorable moments that helped catapult the squad to a Super Bowl victory, setting the stage for a promising future in Western Missouri.

Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis came on strong late in the 2022 campaign, securing sacks for straight weeks straight as a rookie. He understands the impact of Chris Jones’ holdout as well as anyone else on the Chiefs’ roster and praised his teammates who are in attendance in St. Joseph for stepping up their game while the star pass rusher handles his business.

“Just as a group, we’ve had a lot of guys play a lot of ball, starting with Derrick Nnadi and Mike Danna,” Karlaftis explained. “You know, I’ve played some ball Charles Omenihu [too]. When you have a guy like that [Jones], that’s not here right now, you gotta fill that void as a collective.”

Jones was a game-changer for the defense last season, closing several games with clutch sacks.

“That veteran presence, obviously his accolades and what he’s done speaks for itself,” The second-year sack-master continued. “[He was] one of the best, if not the best defensive player last year, so there is a little bit of a void there. We try to fill it as a collective we have guys that have played a lot of ball kind of be all united.”

The Chiefs haven’t given any indication about the state of their negotiations with Jones since training camp officially started on Sunday, but to hear Karlaftis tell it, Kansas City still has plenty of defensive line talent getting work in at the team’s practices.

Should Chiefs fans be worried about Chris Jones’ holdout?

Our @JohnDillonKC doesn’t think that #Chiefs fans should be overly concerned about Chris Jones’ holdout from training camp in St. Joseph.

The Kansas City Chiefs have hosted some of the most prolific pass rushers in NFL history, and Chris Jones is among the finest of the bunch. With sack numbers that put him in the same league as legends like Derrick Thomas, Tamba Hali, and Neil Smith, Jones’ current holdout has some Chiefs fans on edge about his future in Kansas City.

The team invested heavily in the middle of their defensive line after securing their Super Bowl LVII victory, signing veteran Charles Omenihu in free agency and picking rookie Keondre Coburn in the sixth round of April’s draft.

They also returned former first-round pick Danny Shelton from their championship roster, and have fan-favorite lineman Tershawn Wharton set to return from injury in the coming weeks. The team has even experimented with using Mike Danna at the defensive tackle spot and has veteran Derrick Nnadi to eat up space between the offensive tackles.

Add to that their selections of George Karlaftis and Felix Anudike-Uzomah in the first rounds of the past two drafts to fill out the edges, and Kansas City is loaded for bear up front ahead of the 2023 season, at least on paper.

While none of these players are likely to replace Jones’ production individually, the group has the potential to present offensive lines with plenty of precarious predicaments with their varied skill sets.

What is playing out between Jones and Kansas City’s front office is a negotiation where both sides have mutual interest, and one side has all the leverage.

Jones’ current deal is already the second-richest on the Chiefs’ books behind Patrick Mahomes, and while he deserves every bit of what he reportedly wants, the NFL’s salary cap is going to make it hard for the team to justify a deal worth $30 million or more per season.

Kansas City has prepared for a life without Jones if a split becomes necessary, and though it would be a huge blow to the Chiefs’ defense if the holdout extends into the regular season, Steve Spagnuolo certainly has contingency options at his disposal.

The Chiefs’ front office also has options and can choose to place the franchise tag on Jones at the end of the season to keep him in Kansas City through 2024, but they may have to pony up more money. He would be due a salary somewhere in the range of $32 million next season if the team were to tag him, so his demands for the extension aren’t totally without merit.

The reality of the situation, though, is that it would be in neither party’s best interest for Jones to continue sitting out through the entirety of the Chiefs’ training camp and preseason. If he is holding out for a massive payday, missed time to prepare for a contract-year campaign could hamstring his efforts to put up career-best numbers during the regular season and playoffs.

Fans who are more concerned about Jones’ immediate future in Kansas City can rest easy knowing that the team holds all the cards in a situation like this, even through the 2024 season. However, for those who want to see him stay with the Chiefs for the next half-decade, the current state of affairs should certainly seem worrisome.

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Steve Spagnuolo expects Charles Omenihu to play ‘multiple positions’ in 2023

Steve Spagnuolo is looking for positional versitility from Charles Omenihu amid Chris Jones’ holdout from #Chiefs training camp

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Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has managed to coach his unit to two Super Bowl titles since joining the team in 2019. The addition of Charles Omenihu to his squad’s front four in free agency raised the stakes for the seasoned coordinator, who is currently dealing with the absence of star pass rusher Chris Jones as training camp gets underway.

When asked about his expectations for Omenihu after Monday’s practice, Spagnuolo made it clear that the pass rusher’s versatility on the defensive front will be of the utmost importance.

“You know, [I expect him] to play multiple positions, inside and outside,” Spagnuolo explained to reporters after practice. “He did that in San Francisco, so we like that kind of flexibility. Be stern in the run game. My expectations right now for him quite frankly is to learn the system. That’s step number one and then let his natural ability take over after that.”

Omenihu should be a quick study in Spagnuolo’s system, which seemed to be simplified last season after Kansas City added several young defenders in the 2022 NFL draft. If Jones doesn’t return to the Chiefs in the coming weeks, expect Omenihu to be temporarily thrust into his position as Spagnuolo feels out his newest lineman’s skillset.

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