The Atlanta Falcons have progressed through much of the NFL offseason without the notable presence of Pro Bowl wide receiver Julio Jones on the practice field. It has drawn an enormous cloud of attention toward the situation that the Falcons have continued to voice little concern over the standing between both sides.
However, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently conducted an interview with Charlotte’s ESPN 730AM The Game where he shed light on the matter stating that things are in a “bad place” between Jones and the Falcons. (h/t Cory Woodroof of The Falconholic)
“It’s in a bad place right now,” Ledbetter added. “Coach was expecting him in here. He told us that at the owners meeting when I talked to him down there in Orlando, and then, a few weeks later, Julio informed that he’s not going to be here.”
The longer this situation continues to drag on the more clarity to where things lie on both sides. Jones clearly isn't happy about the contract situation that he believes he should receive a pay raise given what he has meant to the team and elite level production he brings to the table every season.
He is heading into the third year of his five-year, $71.2 million deal that has roughly $39.2 million remaining. Jones is set to make a little over $14 million for next season, which, is a salary that puts him as the eighth highest-paid player at his position. This is a number that he likely see should be higher pushing closer to the league-best $17.0 million that Pittsburgh Steelers Antonio Brown will make in the 2018 campaign.
This has become a complicated matter that the Falcons haven't voiced any concern about resolving at this point. It will ultimately lie on their shoulders to working things out with their star wideout by giving him a slight pay raise that he's looking to land.
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