Chiefs Star Lobbying Andy Reid to Miss Part of Training Camp
By Joe Summers
Chris Jones proved last year that he can step right into game action without much offseason training and still deliver. He's now trying to leverage that evidence into skipping some of training camp.
Fresh off a massive contract extension, Jones said at his youth football camp in Kansas City that he was lobbying Andy Reid to let him take days off when Kansas City starts camp in late July.
Jones is entering his ninth NFL season and just had 10.5 sacks as one of the most dominant defenders in the league despite holding out into the year. Does he really need practice anymore?
Chris Jones Lobbying Andy Reid to Skip Training Camp
He's obviously committing to helping the team as much as possible, so Jones' comments were mostly in jest.
“Listen man, I’ve already been talking to Andy about, ‘Let me skip out on training camp. I’m a little older, right?’” Jones said. "I can feel it. I can feel when we have a day on training camp. Give me like two days off and one day on then, and we maybe can work something out, you know?”
Jones plays a grueling, physical position. I don't blame him for wanting some time off.
“(Reid) just looked at me,” Jones continued. “So the conversation is still ongoing.” He reiterated that he's focused on being in the best shape possible to help the team accomplish its goals. If Reid wants Jones to fully participate in training camp, he will.
Jones has at least 9.5 sacks in six of his last seven seasons. He's earned the benefit of the doubt and thanks to this new contract, he should be a Chief for life.
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