The Kansas City Chiefs are missing their defensive anchor as voluntary workouts open with word that Chris Jones is nowhere to be found.
Chris Jones is absent. He also doesn’t have to be anywhere right now.
Right now, it’s possible for Jones to show up and officially start to work out with the rest of the Kansas City Chiefs roster. Voluntary workouts are open to all players and given the level of competition for everyone’s job, most players can be found in the weight rooms of their home stadiums this spring. It’s voluntary, but it’s also expected—like it or not. That’s why, when a player is missing, it can be a newsworthy event even though, on paper, there’s nothing newsworthy about it.
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Chris Jones is absent from something he doesn’t have to attend. And that’s all that we really know at this point at Chiefs fans.
However, Jones is no dummy and it’s reasonable to assume that he knows that he’s making a statement by, well, not being around to actually say anything. Brett Veach has made it clear that he wants to sign Jones to a long-term extension. Nothing certain has been accomplished there just yet, and Jones is now (once again, we’re assuming here) making it known that he wants some progress on that front.
Or maybe he just doesn’t want to work when he doesn’t have to—you know, just like the rest of us.
Terez Paylor of Yahoo! Sports has no problem interpreting Jones’ absence through the lens of finances, and he’s likely right on that front. Jones is set for a raise of approximately $17 to 18 million per season, so it’s understandable if he wants to help push such paperwork through. If the fact that he’s missing will help Brett Veach get a proper contract offer in order, it makes sense for him to keep his distance until he has to report for duty in mid-June.
While Jones has a lot to learn, like anyone else, when transitioning to a new defensive coordinator, he’s also one of the most talented players on that defense. It shouldn’t take him long to settle in alongside new teammates when we’re talking about his long-term goals here—one that would keep him in K.C. for the next half-decade or so.
Together with Frank Clark, Jones will form one of the NFL’s highest-paid defensive fronts. They will also be one of the league’s most disruptive fronts. It will be exciting to see them together soon enough. There’s just that matter of some paperwork first.