Quinn: Falcons began 'conversations' with Jones
Wide receiver Julio Jones skipped the Atlanta Falcons' minicamp this week, but head coach Dan Quinn says he's confident the sides are headed toward a resolution.
"The good news is that there are conversations that have begun," Quinn said as minicamp concluded Thursday.
"We'll keep those private. I have a lot of faith in the organization and also in Julio that things will get resolved with good communications. I'm sure that'll be a part of it as well."
Jones' decision to skip minicamp reportedly stems from an unsatisfactory response to a contract proposal in recent weeks. He can be fined just under $85,000 for missing camp.
Jones has missed the Falcons' offseason conditioning program and organized team activities -- all of which is voluntary -- while training on his own in Alabama. The minicamp, the team's final practice before training camp starts in late July, is the only mandatory portion of the offseason, with players who don't attend subject to fines.
NFL Network reported in May that Jones would like "some sort of correction or update" to his contract -- which still has two years remaining -- adding that the Falcons are "amenable" to working something out, in part because of how good of a player and teammate Jones is.
Jones refuted the report a few weeks later, telling TMZ, "It's not even about (his contract)."
"Everyone wants a story right now," Jones said. "There's no story. There's no bad blood with the team or anything like that. ... I'm not going anywhere."
Team owner Arthur Blank said at the league's meetings in May that Jones is "going to be a Falcon forever," adding that any discussions about a new contract are "between us and him."
The 29-year-old's annual average of $14.3 million currently ranks eighth among NFL wideouts, trailing four players (Mike Evans, Sammy Watkins, Jarvis Landry and Davante Adams) who have signed new extensions since late December. He is set to make $12.5 million and count $14.9 million against the cap in 2019, with both figures also ranking eighth among wideouts.
Antonio Brown is the league's highest-paid wide receiver at $17 million per year.
Jones, a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro, has 585 receptions for 9,054 yards and 43 touchdowns during his seven NFL seasons.
His absence has opened up additional reps at offseason practices for rookie Calvin Ridley, who the Falcons took 26th overall in April's draft out of Alabama, Jones' alma mater.
--Field Level Media
