Sources: Falcons not giving Julio Jones contract extension

[CGI_Ram]

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...er-julio-jones-new-contract-according-sources

Sources: Falcons not giving Julio Jones contract extension

The Atlanta Falcons informed Pro Bowl wide receiver Julio Jones last month that they would not give him a contract extension this season, sources confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The communication doesn't mean the Falcons can't modify Jones' contract this season in the form of incentives, but his deal will not be extended in 2018, sources said.

The fact that someone in the Falcons organization has publicly commented does not sit well with Jones, sources told Schefter, and Jones now will have to decide whether to attend training camp next week.

If Jones does not report to training camp, he is subject to a $40,000 fine per day missed.

The team's decision not to renegotiate a deal with Jones was first reported by The Athletic.

Jones, who did not join the team for offseason workouts or a mandatory minicamp, was seeking a raise with three years and $34.426 million left on his contract. He signed a five-year, $71.25 million extension in August 2015 that included $47 million guaranteed. Jones is due $10.5 million for the '18 season.

General manager Thomas Dimitroff made it clear that the top priorities right now are extensions for left tackle Jake Matthews, nose tackle Grady Jarrett and free safety Ricardo Allen. The team typically addresses contract extensions when a player is entering the final year of a contract and apparently doesn't want to set a new precedent by addressing Jones' deal with three years left.

The Falcons report to training camp next Thursday, and the hope is Jones will report. The first practice is next Friday at 9:20 a.m.

Coach Dan Quinn expected Jones to report to mandatory minicamp, but that didn't occur. Quinn said he wasn't disappointed in Jones because the two had communication through the process. Quinn would not confirm if the team fined Jones the standard $84,435 for missing the three-day camp.

Jones joined quarterback Matt Ryan and a host of other Falcons for workouts in California this week. Following minicamp, Ryan promised to conduct such sessions with Jones as a participant.

Jones' average of $14.25 million per year, based on the five-year extension, stands ninth among NFL wide receivers. He was pushed down a slot this week when Brandin Cooks of the Los Angeles Rams signed a five-year extension worth $16 million per year. Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers leads all receivers at $17 million per year.

In terms of guaranteed money, Mike Evans of Tampa Bay tops all receivers at more than $55 million, followed by Houston's DeAndre Hopkins with $49 million and Jones and Cleveland's Jarvis Landry at $47 million.

 

[Psycho_X]

Going public about this is probably a shit move on the Falcons. But I don't blame them one bit in denying his request though. He signed his contract, he agreed to it, and its only been 2 years.

 

[OldSchool]

With 3 years left on a 5 year deal? Silly to think he'd get an extension! Get your butt to camp!

 

[Merlin]

Yeah with 3 years left??? C'MON MAN!

I'd play hardball and trade him. I'm sure there's another team who would be willing to play his silly ass game.

 

[LesBaker]

It could actually work in the Falcons favor. In 3 years the cap will be higher and his contract will be bigger. It's something to consider anyway.

 

[Akrasian]

It could actually work in the Falcons favor. In 3 years the cap will be higher and his contract will be bigger. It's something to consider anyway.

Yeah, but will he hold out for even more money then? He's already shown he can't be trusted to honor his contract less than halfway through it, after all.

 

[Ram65]

This reports the Falcons will talk to Jones after the season. Not much of a story. It's fine the Falcons made statements so this can blow over till next year.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...promise-julio-jones-to-talk-deal-after-season

Falcons promise Julio Jones to talk deal after se

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• 
• By Kevin Patra
• Around the NFL Writer
• Published: July 19, 2018 at 08:33 a.m.
• Updated: July 20, 2018 at 08:38 a.m.

Julio Jones sat out offseason workouts in hopes of getting a new contract. The Atlanta Falcons will not acquiesce -- at least for now.

The Falcons are not planning to renegotiate the All-Pro receiver's contract with three years left on the deal, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday, according to a source informed of the team's thinking.

However, the Falcons aren't completely ignoring Jones' desire for a new contract. The team promised him in June they would work on a new deal after the 2018 season, a source informed of the situation told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Jeff Schultz of The Athletic first reported the team's decision to not negotiate a new contract this season.


Jones enters the third year of a five-year, $71.25 million contract extension signed in 2015, which lasts through the 2020 season. With Jones under contract through 2020 -- and the team able to wield the franchise tag for two subsequent years -- the Falcons are prioritizing extensions for players entering the final year of their contracts: DT Grady Jarrett, OT Jake Matthewsand safety Ricardo Allen, per Rapoport.

It always seemed a long shot for Jones to get a new deal in 2018. NFL teams are generally reticent even to consider a new deal with two years left on a contract. Giving Jones a new contract -- even if he's deserving -- would set a new precedent. NFL teams despise setting precedents.

With the news that the team won't give Jones a pay raise, the question is whether the wideout will attend training camp when Falcons veterans report July 26. Rapoport notes that communication between Jones and the team has remained strong, but the Falcons still haven't been informed about whether he will attend camp.

Jones showing up for Matt Ryan's passing camp is a good sign the wideout is still invested in a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Comments from the receiver earlier this offseason -- notably saying he'd be a Falcon for life -- also indicate he wouldn't hold out.

Things could change, however, if Jones pulls his only leverage play: withholding services.

The man voted the No. 4 overall NFL player by his peers in NFL Network's Top 100 players of 2018 is on a contract that averages $14.25 million per season, eighth highest among receivers. It's not surprising that a player of Jones' caliber would feel underpaid. He is. But with the Falcons holding nearly all the cards, there is little he can do about it with three years left to play before the game of tag even begins.

If Jones decides he needs to be paid now, skipping camp, preseason and eventually regular season games is his only method to pressure Atlanta. We'll know in a week whether the superstar wideout is willing to employ that little-used strategy.

 

[Jacobarch]

These players are getting a little out of control with their demands .
I think it's time the NFL puts a player cap in place to keep these contracts under control

 

[RamFan503]

It could actually work in the Falcons favor. In 3 years the cap will be higher and his contract will be bigger. It's something to consider anyway.

And then every good player will want secure 5 or 6 year deals they can renegotiate after a year or two. Yeah - good plan setting that precedent.

 

[Loyal]

You know, I have some sympathy for players like Aaron Donald who have vastly outplayed their rookie contracts. I have ZERO sympathy for a guy who signed a negotiated contract and then wants to change the deal. Sorry dude, you agreed and signed "on the line, that is dotted."

 

[LesBaker]

And then every good player will want secure 5 or 6 year deals they can renegotiate after a year or two. Yeah - good plan setting that precedent.

You don't have to do it with every player, use it in situations like this, you could actually save a little money. Then front load the deal so if the player gets lazy or sucks he can be cut with less damage. And with the NFL's structure it's only the guaranteed money that matters, the rest is bullshit and fluff.

The cap is going to go up plenty in the next few years. In 3 years Julio will command (short of injury or complete falloff) more than what the deals are now for top WR's. In a couple of years the cap will pass the 200MIL mark, and go up from there when new TV deals are done.

Extending a WR that is 30 when the season starts and doing it early on another 4 year deal isn't a bad strategy. Especially with a team that is playing with their title window still open.

Keep in mind they played PHIL toe to toe in the playoffs in the Eagles house.

 

[RamFan503]

You know, I have some sympathy for players like Aaron Donald who have vastly outplayed their rookie contracts. I have ZERO sympathy for a guy who signed a negotiated contract and then wants to change the deal. Sorry dude, you agreed and signed "on the line, that is dotted."

Exactly. AD was slotted in. He was unable to negotiate a deal based on his abilities. He has proven himself to not only NOT be a bust for his team but to be worth far more than the vast majority of players at his pay scale. Jones negotiated a second deal based on his demonstrated worth to his team. He now wants to renegotiate because other players have passed him on the pay scale - not necessarily for anything he has done over and above what he was being paid for in his current deal. Apples and oranges - night and day.

 

[OldSchool]

You don't have to do it with every player, use it in situations like this, you could actually save a little money. Then front load the deal so if the player gets lazy or sucks he can be cut with less damage. And with the NFL's structure it's only the guaranteed money that matters, the rest is bullcrap and fluff.

The cap is going to go up plenty in the next few years. In 3 years Julio will command (short of injury or complete falloff) more than what the deals are now for top WR's. In a couple of years the cap will pass the 200MIL mark, and go up from there when new TV deals are done.

Extending a WR that is 30 when the season starts and doing it early on another 4 year deal isn't a bad strategy. Especially with a team that is playing with their title window still open.

Keep in mind they played PHIL toe to toe in the playoffs in the Eagles house.

What we might see, in my speculative opinion, is top end players negotiating their contracts and having each year after the first go up by the same percentage as the cap goes up.

 

[RamFan503]

You don't have to do it with every player, use it in situations like this, you could actually save a little money. Then front load the deal so if the player gets lazy or sucks he can be cut with less damage. And with the NFL's structure it's only the guaranteed money that matters, the rest is bullcrap and fluff.

The cap is going to go up plenty in the next few years. In 3 years Julio will command (short of injury or complete falloff) more than what the deals are now for top WR's. In a couple of years the cap will pass the 200MIL mark, and go up from there when new TV deals are done.

Extending a WR that is 30 when the season starts and doing it early on another 4 year deal isn't a bad strategy. Especially with a team that is playing with their title window still open.

Keep in mind they played PHIL toe to toe in the playoffs in the Eagles house.

You don't know the cap is going to go up "plenty". Besides, you may not have to do it with every player but EVERY year you will have a few players pushing the cap that are actually due new contracts as well as FAs you want to go out and get to improve your team. It is a very bad precedent to add one or two other contracts that should be locked into your cap figures. With a 30 year old player, you are likely not going to be breaking the bank if you wait until he is 32. How many teams are going to offer a 5 year deal at top money for someone likely to lose a step very soon? So - nah - it is not good strategy and will only ensure that you have more issues like this in the future. At that point, you are actually better off letting him walk so he can hamstring some other team while not winning the SB.

 

[LesBaker]

Exactly. AD was slotted in. He was unable to negotiate a deal based on his abilities. He has proven himself to not only NOT be a bust for his team but to be worth far more than the vast majority of players at his pay scale. Jones negotiated a second deal based on his demonstrated worth to his team. He now wants to renegotiate because other players have passed him on the pay scale - not necessarily for anything he has done over and above what he was being paid for in his current deal. Apples and oranges - night and day.

The two situations are different, yes. But they are still kinda neighbors. Not as opposed as apples and oranges.

Donald held out after his third year and after being offered a gigantic deal.

This is to different examples of players trying to earn as much as they can. And I get it, I would do the same.

What we might see, in my speculative opinion, is top end players negotiating their contracts and having each year after the first go up by the same percentage as the cap goes up.

I think there will be more flexibility going forward in the new CBA as long as Asshat Smith is not involved. And both of those things ae good LOL.

You don't know the cap is going to go up "plenty".

It's based on revenues, and revenues increase every year so yeah it's going to go up 10% or more every year. Like it usually does.

 

[RamFan503]

The two situations are different, yes. But they are still kinda neighbors. Not as opposed as apples and oranges.

Donald held out after his third year and after being offered a gigantic deal.

This is to different examples of players trying to earn as much as they can. And I get it, I would do the same.

AD and his agents didn't negotiate and sign a new deal. He and his agents have never negotiated and signed a contract period - completely different. Any player seeking a deal before their current deal is up could be considered neighbors under your definition. It is the differences - not the similarities that make it an apples to oranges situation.

It's based on revenues, and revenues increase every year so yeah it's going to go up 10% or more every year. Like it usually does.

Well roughly 9% but the number doesn't matter if all the salaries are going up, like they have, to absorb the increase. You still have a situation where your major 2, 3, or 5 contracts inevitably due each year will command an increase commensurate with the cap and often at a far higher rate than the cap increase. Having a player or two also demanding a new deal each year in ADDITION to those, creates yet another constraint on improving the entire team. You either pay these few top players and make due with lesser players below them, or you hold your ground so you can pay more upper level players to broaden the strength of your roster. It is selfish to keep renegotiating your contract because others are suddenly getting more, at the sake of your team mates and the ultimate goal of winning championships.

You can say all you want about a player's right to try to improve his situation or the fact that many careers are short but when you are guaranteed $45 million, you have enough for a short career and you and your agent agreed to it. At some point, a contract has to be a CONTRACT. You can't have it both ways. You can't expect guaranteed money and number of years while also expecting to be able to trash that contract every year or two because the market changed EXACTLY HOW YOU AND YOUR AGENT KNEW IT WOULD WHEN YOU SIGNED.

A team HAS to be able to budget and plan for how to use their cap space. That means that they need to be able to forecast out.

You sign a deal that is a good deal for you at the time - the cap goes up and someone gets paid more. Boo Hoo. Strap it on and get on the field.

 

[LesBaker]

At some point, a contract has to be a CONTRACT. You can't have it both ways.

Unless you are the owner. In which case you can cut a player and the contract isn't valid anymore because it isn't really a contract on your side, it's more of a suggestion or set of guidelines.

And remember, we see players redo contracts every year to lower their salary and cap hit. Brady has done it how many times?

I'm not for a player holding out, it doesn't help anyone, and I don't like greedy fuckers. But these guys are playing under the WORST deal in all of pro sports and it needs to get fixed. It will reduce these type of problems in the long term. As usual I will say they need to look to the NBA for some of their cap exceptions when they redo the current CBA.

Sometimes it makes sense for a team to do something with a really special player. You seem to think I am saying this can apply across the board, I'm not.

It's really and truly just a case of "moving the numbers around" when it comes to this type of thing.

Well roughly 9% but the number doesn't matter if all the salaries are going up, like they have, to absorb the increase.

Which is why it's called the salary cap, and salaries go up and that's part of what I am saying. Paying him money now may cost less than wiating 2-3 years. At 10% per year that adds up to 36MIL more to spend by the 2020 off-season. He's 30, not 25, so if he is going to play out his contract and hit the market at 33 he is way less likely to get a big payday. Redoing his deal now is not an option that is off the table if I am a GM, I'm at least talking to he and his agent about it. It's a matter of moving on in 3 years or putting together another deal if you want to keep him a couple or few years beyond that.

 

[Akrasian]

Unless you are the owner. In which case you can cut a player and the contract isn't valid anymore because it isn't really a contract on your side, it's more of a suggestion or set of guidelines.

It's the guaranteed money that is important. That's why NFL players get signing bonuses that dwarf what players in other US sports get.

 

[OldSchool]

Unless you are the owner. In which case you can cut a player and the contract isn't valid anymore because it isn't really a contract on your side, it's more of a suggestion or set of guidelines.

And remember, we see players redo contracts every year to lower their salary and cap hit. Brady has done it how many times?

Actually is there anything in that contract that says the player can't be cut before the end of it? Is there anything in there that lists consequences for the team if they do cut the player before the contract ends? The only way that happens is if they cut them before scheduled guaranteed money runs it's course. Cutting a player 3 years into a 5 year contract is not against the rules and it's not forbidden in the CBA or in the letter of the contracts. Hell contracts I write for my company will lists conditions they can be ended and consequences. This is all on the CBA and the Union for them not getting better deals. Once again it comes back to weak Union leadership.

 

[LesBaker]

Actually is there anything in that contract that says the player can't be cut before the end of it? Is there anything in there that lists consequences for the team if they do cut the player before the contract ends? The only way that happens is if they cut them before scheduled guaranteed money runs it's course. Cutting a player 3 years into a 5 year contract is not against the rules and it's not forbidden in the CBA or in the letter of the contracts. Hell contracts I write for my company will lists conditions they can be ended and consequences. This is all on the CBA and the Union for them not getting better deals. Once again it comes back to weak Union leadership.

I don't know............but they need to make changes it'll go a long way towards player/management relations.