Branden Albert goes back on his initial statements about playing for Jaguars

Former Chiefs lineman Branden Albert was noticeably absent from the Jaguars opening workouts as he holds out for a new deal.

Branden Albert said all the right things earlier this offseason. After the trade that sent the veteran left tackle from the Miami Dolphins to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Albert spoke highly of the trade saying he was happy to be wanted and was “excited about where he was going.” Now, however, when it’s time to follow through and show up for the team’s first workouts under new head coach Doug Marrone, Albert is nowhere to be found.

To his credit, Albert is sitting out of voluntary workouts, but it says something that the team’s new left tackle is not there, especially after saying so much about leading by example this offseason.

"“For someone to trade for me, for someone to show faith in me [is important] … You put faith in me, I’m going to give you all the loyalty I have and give you everything I have.”"

That’s a bad look for a veteran player to set a selfish tone, especially for a brand new head coach and such a young roster. The last thing Marrone needs is to deal with a veteran who distracts from his ability to lay the foundation he wants.

Albert spent the last three years with the Miami Dolphins before being traded for a seventh round selection. He spent his first six years in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs.