EDIT: Julio Jones WILL report to Falcons camp on Thursday - contract was re-worked

[Mark Inabinett | minabinett@al.com]

 

[TerryP]

 

[OldPlayer]

Getting a bit greedy if you ask me. There are other players who need increases/extensions and you can't do both with the salary cap.

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

Contract was front loaded with his guaranteed money. He is now entering the span of no guaranteed money. IIRC it is 14m this year, 12m next year and 10m the final year. I don't think they will negotiate until after this season at the earliest. At this point he really has no leverage and it could cost him some pretty serious money per day holding out. Not sure if he is just going to make a point and then show up or if he is dead serious and sits for the whole camp. Julio has shown himself to be pretty sharp at the business aspect but I can't really see the upside of this for him at this point with 3 yrs left and the team stating pretty emphatically they aren't going to talk $$$ at this time.

edit
got the numbers wrong above. 10.5m this year, 12.5m next year and 11.4m for the next

 

[planomateo]

Remind me again who is agent is...

 

[BamaFan334]

So does this technically mean he will not get paid, unless there is guaranteed money? Willing to lose $11M to gain how much? So he will have to play how many more seasons to make up the $11M he will lose? Hopefully his agent is explaining this to him if the Falcons really do sink their heels in deep. Just read he can be fined up to $40,000 a day for not showing to camp. Could be a pricey decision for Julio. The Falcons are most likely in the driver's seat here if you ask me, and rightfully so.

I agree, pretty shitty move on his behalf. He got the big contract he wanted, now he is jealous and wants more money. Play out what you signed up for and get your agent to go to work for you in a year or so when the Falcons said they normally restructure contracts. I have news for you Julio, next year, someone will have a bigger contract from the receiver group. It increases every stinking year, so you'll be the man for a season, then fall back down the list. Just look at any other position in the league. Do the right thing and honor your signature and your word on that contract.

 

[planomateo]

Do the right thing and honor your signature and your word on that contract.

Teams cut players all the time with years remaining on the players contract. It goes both ways.

I'm sure Julio understands the gamble here.

If he gets more, good for him. If he doesn't, the bad on him. It's all part of the process.

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

If he gets more, good for him. If he doesn't, the bad on him. It's all part of the process.

yep this is where I am with it. It is pretty standard business practice in the NFL. For the next 3 years if nothing changes with his contract he is 1 injury away from 0$ which is what I believe his major motivation is as opposed to "highest paid WR"

 

[BamaFan334]

Do the right thing and honor your signature and your word on that contract.

Teams cut players all the time with years remaining on the players contract. It goes both ways.

I'm sure Julio understands the gamble here.

If he gets more, good for him. If he doesn't, the bad on him. It's all part of the process.

Pretty sure there is language stating they have the right to cut a guy detrimental to the team or that is not living up to the standard they are expected to, and when he signs that he has agreed to all of that, on top of showing up when asked and also when they can talk restructure. Just not showing up and demanding more money is not a part of that deal, hence why they can fine him up to $40,000 a day.

The Falcons have stated they will talk next season, which is when they normally schedule these talks, closer to the actual contract ending date. So I just think it's pretty petty and sour of him to not show up after they made him the highest paid receiver a couple of years ago. They have treated him well, paid him when he got hurt for the season and stood by him when he wasn't producing at a Top 4 pick level, yet he wants them to take care of him, but he can't take care of them at this point?

 

[planomateo]

History proves this is part of the process.

I don't have a dog in the fight, I certainly don't side with the owners.

 

[TUSKtimes]

I love Julio but which Bama fan doesn't. He is getting a lot of negative press on this one. These guys are not going to get paid like basketball players and they need to negotiate smart when it's their turn at bat.

 

[BamaFan334]

History proves this is part of the process.

I don't have a dog in the fight, I certainly don't side with the owners.

History proves NFL teams renegotiate three years before the end of a contract?

 

[planomateo]

No history proves that as player, this is a path to disputing a contract.

 

[BamaFan334]

No history proves that as player, this is a path to disputing a contract.

Guess he should be like LeBron then and sign two year deals with an option, and not five year deals.

 

[OldPlayer]

So does this technically mean he will not get paid, unless there is guaranteed money? Willing to lose $11M to gain how much? So he will have to play how many more seasons to make up the $11M he will lose? Hopefully his agent is explaining this to him if the Falcons really do sink their heels in deep. Just read he can be fined up to $40,000 a day for not showing to camp. Could be a pricey decision for Julio. The Falcons are most likely in the driver's seat here if you ask me, and rightfully so.

I agree, pretty shitty move on his behalf. He got the big contract he wanted, now he is jealous and wants more money. Play out what you signed up for and get your agent to go to work for you in a year or so when the Falcons said they normally restructure contracts. I have news for you Julio, next year, someone will have a bigger contract from the receiver group. It increases every stinking year, so you'll be the man for a season, then fall back down the list. Just look at any other position in the league. Do the right thing and honor your signature and your word on that contract.

I'm sure his agent was involved in the decision to not show up.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

I would think Mr Blank would be willing to give Julio another 3 million per year BUT that will just open up a can of worms for the other top talent players on the Bird payroll for a pot sweetener as well.

 

[BamaFan334]

So does this technically mean he will not get paid, unless there is guaranteed money? Willing to lose $11M to gain how much? So he will have to play how many more seasons to make up the $11M he will lose? Hopefully his agent is explaining this to him if the Falcons really do sink their heels in deep. Just read he can be fined up to $40,000 a day for not showing to camp. Could be a pricey decision for Julio. The Falcons are most likely in the driver's seat here if you ask me, and rightfully so.

I agree, pretty shitty move on his behalf. He got the big contract he wanted, now he is jealous and wants more money. Play out what you signed up for and get your agent to go to work for you in a year or so when the Falcons said they normally restructure contracts. I have news for you Julio, next year, someone will have a bigger contract from the receiver group. It increases every stinking year, so you'll be the man for a season, then fall back down the list. Just look at any other position in the league. Do the right thing and honor your signature and your word on that contract.

I'm sure his agent was involved in the decision to not show up.

I have no doubt. Julio is not dumb, and neither is Sexton, but sometimes pride gets in the way of intelligence. He's built up some nice goodwill in Atlanta with the fans and we all love him, but that shit will go down the drain in two seconds when these types of things happen.

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

He's built up some nice goodwill in Atlanta with the fans and we all love him, but that shit will go down the drain in two seconds when these types of things happen.

I am not an Atlanta fan so I have a question, how do the fans feel about Matt Ryan signing the 150m, 100m guaranteed contract? Full disclosure Ryan has been my fantasy QB for the past 3 years. Not questioning his value just wonder if the fans feel his value is that high?

 

[planomateo]

One could argue their value is diminished with Sark calling the plays. :bolt:

 

[BamaFan334]

He's built up some nice goodwill in Atlanta with the fans and we all love him, but that shit will go down the drain in two seconds when these types of things happen.

I am not an Atlanta fan so I have a question, how do the fans feel about Matt Ryan signing the 150m, 100m guaranteed contract? Full disclosure Ryan has been my fantasy QB for the past 3 years. Not questioning his value just wonder if the fans feel his value is that high?

I personally hated it. He's not a guy that deserves that kind of money. I'm of the thought a $100M quarterback should be reserved for Super Bowl winners. I don't think any are worth that, but willing to concede the open market to Super Bowl winners. Matt Ryan is a turnover machine that is no longer "Matty Ice" in crunch time to me. Go out and find you a $50M quarterback and give him Julio, Sanu, Freeman, Coleman, a solid line, and now a Calvin Ridley and I promise you he'll make the playoffs, save you millions, and let his superstars win him a Super Bowl.

Stafford and Andrew Luck absolutely ruined the market, then Flacco, but atleast Flacco won a Super Bowl.