Several top wide receivers are fighting for new contracts from their respective teams and going about it in different ways. While the quarterback market slowly getting set, the wide receiver market is unknown which is forcing several players to play the waiting game. While Dez Bryant is fighting for his new contract by holding out and threatening to skip the season opener, Julio Jones is making it clear that he just wants to play football and the contract will come when it does.
Jones is one of the receivers currently looking for a new contract as he enters the final year of his deal after his fifth-year option was picked up. General manager Thomas Dimitroff has made it clear that Jones' contract is a priority as they intend for the receiver to be a franchise player and Jones has stated he is looking for the same thing, but he also does not plan on holding out to try and get it.
"Whatever they feel like I'm deserving of ... I'm just here," Jones said, via Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. "I'm just trying to be the best teammate. I'm just trying to play. My thing is to play ball. Jimmy Sexton, he's going to negotiate that with [general manager] Thomas [Dimitroff] and [Falcons owner] Mr. [Arthur] Blank. That's the side they handle. My side, I've got to handle on the football field. I've got to keep showing up every day and putting in work. I haven't been watching other people. All I can do is take care of me. I'm going to let [the Falcons] take care of that side of it. If they say be here at this time, I'm going to be there. I'm going to be accountable. I'm not going to hold out for anything."
That is likely music to Falcons' fans ears as Jones will be a critical aspect to the team's success this season. According to ESPN, contract talks have been non-existent between the two sides as Atlanta waits to see what the market will be doing. Bryant and Demaryius Thomas will likely sign first as they play on franchise tags and then deals for Jones and AJ Green will come next.
For now, Jones and the rest of the Falcons are focused on improving, something that got a little bit harder on Wednesday when offensive tackle Lamar Holmes went down with a broken foot. The expected recovery time is six to eight weeks, leaving doubt on the line. Injuries have plagued the offensive line over the past two seasons. Atlanta said goodbye to Sam Baker in hopes of avoiding that again.
Could this push Atlanta to be in talks with Evan Mathis? Atlanta signed Chris Chester to a deal recently, but Mathis is a Pro Bowl guard who would be the better upgrade. Holmes was expected to contend for a starting spot. Without him for the next few months, the Falcons must do some shuffling of players and Mathis could help with that.
