While appearing at a team-sponsored event for Ronald McDonald House Charities in Kansas City, Chiefs All-Pro defensive lineman Chris Jones clarified his stance amid his ongoing holdout for a new contract.
“It’s always been my goal to be a Kansas City Chief for life,” Jones said via Jared Koller of KCTV5. I’ve said that many times on social media platforms in interviews. They know where my position is at and, hopefully, we can get something worked out for the long term. … When you take the personal feelings out of it, all I’m doing is asking for a raise.”
Jones, 29, previously said he would take his holdout into Week 8 of the regular season.
Chiefs’ Chris Jones: ‘Hopefully We Can Get Something Worked Out’
Chris Jones ‘Can Play Right Now’
That is the Chiefs’ bye week. He has also brushed off fan criticism and said that he can afford the nearly $10 million in fines that he will have racked up if he follows through with his plans to stay away from the team.
“Opinions are like b*** holes. Everybody got one, and they all stink, Jones said. “Some gonna like it, some gonna respect it, some gonna dislike it. That’s just the way it is. You can’t make everybody happy, unfortunately. As much as you try to do and as much as you try to appease people, you’re not going to make everyone happy, unfortunately. I’m sorry. I’m just asking for a raise.”
Jones says he did not want to be a distraction by holding in.
The bye week is not a bad time for Jones to return if it does indeed come to that. It would give him time to get his conditioning in order after missing the entire offseason program and the preseason.
But Jones asserted that he could “play right now” if need be. That jibes with sentiments expressed by general manager Brett Veach.
And the Chiefs are said to have made an offer to the four-time Pro Bowler.
Chiefs’ Contract Offer to All-Pro DL Chris Jones Revealed: Report
“We have been in communication,” Veach said via the team on August 30. “We’re looking forward to next Thursday, and hopefully he’s in the lineup and he’s ready to go.”
Still, with no resolution yet and none in sight, things are getting dicey for the Chiefs. They will be without more than 28% of their sack production from last season. They boasted the league’s best pressure rate with Jones on the field but dropped to 28th when he was off last season.
“I don’t think there’s any animosity between me and the Chiefs organization,” Jones said. “I just think that there’s a little disagreement. I’m asking for a raise. They feel like this is what I deserve, I feel like I deserve more, and [it’s] just a misunderstanding.”
Chiefs Could Be Without Travis Kelce
A resolution with Jones would help take the sting out of possibly losing Travis Kelce who hyperextended his knee in practice on Tuesday and suffered what is being called a bone bruise, per his brother, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce.
Jason believes Travis will be able to suit up for the opener, noting that the knee was “intact” structurally.
Of course, the Chief could air on the side of caution to begin a long season.
They would need players like backup tight ends Noah Gray and Blake Bell to step up in case of Kelce’s potential absence on Thursday. But wideouts Karaius Toney and Skyy Moore could also have to shoulder a larger burden than either have proven capable of doing so far in their young careers.
Absences Could Catch Up With Chiefs
The Chiefs still have Patrick Mahomes under center, and that generally means they have a shot in every game.
At some point, however, attrition impacts everyone and the Chiefs are in for an early bout.
The good news for them is that they should be able to look forward to having both Jones and Kelce for the long haul knowing that Kelce’s injury is not considered serious and that Jones still hopes to get something done rather than seek a trade.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
