The Chiefs have started to prepare for the season opener that is just four days away without star defensive player, Chris Jones.
The tackle is seeking a new deal with the defending champions as he is entering the last season of his four-year deal from 2020.
So far, Jones has been fined approximately $2 million dollars for missing all of training camp and the 3 preseason games. The player will also incur a $1 million dollar fine for each regular season game he misses if negotiations continue to be unsuccessful.
Coach Reid: “Chris has chosen to go this route”
Chris Jones, who was set to make $80 million dollars over the duration of his contract, is now the ninth highest-paid defensive tackle in the league, a situation that has made the player demand a better contract as he is now considered the top player in his position.
Chief’s coach Andy Reid, talked to the media on Friday ahead of the season kickoff on Thursday and touched on the issue between the franchise and Jones by saying “Chris has chosen to go this route. Some other guys have chosen to get their deals done and come in and play. I’m not here to criticize one way or the other. We’ve had a lot of success with the guys that we have, and we go with it.”
Reid went on to hint that the team doesn’t expect to have Chris back before Week 1 by saying “Chris is a great player. We’ve got other good players. They’ll have to step their game up to fill the role. … Everybody just has to play their best, and then you work through it. But to think that you’re gonna fill in for Chris, that’s not what you’re doing.”
Touching on the topic of how much time would Jones need to get up to speed the Coach said “One thing about Chris is he keeps himself in good shape. I haven’t seen him, but I’d anticipate that he’d come back in relatively good shape. … As long as he is physically in good shape, you can kind of start working him in and get him going, then you play it by ear after that and see where he’s at.”
Travis Kelce begged for Jones to return
One player who is wary of the team’s chances of success without Chris Jones is star tight end Travis Kelce.
Talking about the situation between Jones and the Chiefs, the 33-year-old said during the podcast he hosts with his brother called “New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce”.
Travis said the following about his teammate’s decision to hold out: “I just don’t get it. Chris, can you please come back?.”
Kelce went on to say “You’re really scaring me, man. I don’t get it. You must know something that I don’t know because I just don’t get it. I really want to get another Super Bowl ring with you, brother. This is me bargaining you to just come back and play football for the Chiefs. Please, we need you. We need you bad, and I don’t know what the situation is.”
The Chiefs will open the NFL regular season on Thursday at home against the Detroit Lions followed up by a trip to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars in Week 2.
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