Chiefs DT Chris Jones Not Expected to Be at Minicamp Amid Contract Dispute
By Jerry Trotta
Stop us if you've heard this before, but an NFL player is expected to hold out of minicamp as he desires a new and improved contract.
Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones will not be present for mandatory minicamp, which begins on Tuesday, and will take on any fines that the franchise sends his way.
#Chiefs star DT Chris Jones, whose contract negotiations have stalled, is not present with the team today and not expected to be at minicamp, sources say. He’ll be subject to fines.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 11, 2019
The Chiefs drafted Jones out of Mississippi State back in 2016 and proceeded to sign the DT to a four-year, $6.23 million rookie deal months later. That contract is set to expire following the 2019 season, and the now-24-year-old is seeking a fresh extension.
Jones and Kansas City were reportedly working on a new deal over two months ago, but those talks have stalled, as the two sides could not come to an agreement on a fair salary.
Chiefs DT Chris Jones holding out of minicamphttps://t.co/MJvm4rVlJK pic.twitter.com/CWWaLhHtSo
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) June 11, 2019
The three-year pro is now subject to fines that could reach close to $90,000. Of course, the Chiefs could waive them, but it remains to be seen if they will do so at this juncture.
Jones is set to earn just $1.2 million in base salary for 2019, and to say that he's grossly underpaid would be a colossal understatement. He's coming off a 15.5-sack season, and has established himself as one of the best interior defensive linemen in the league.
Simply put, the Chiefs would be making a massive miscalculation to nickel-and-dime him.