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There are so many reasons why he's so many Bama fans' favorite. Here's yet another reason:
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/06/julio_jones_on_why_he_wont_hol.html#incart_river
Atlanta Falcons wide receivers Julio Jones catches a pass while being covered by another Atlanta wide receiver, Roddy White, during minicamp on Tuesday, June 16, 2015, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo)
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By Mark Inabinett | minabinett@al.com AL.com
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on June 17, 2015 at 10:26 PM, updated June 17, 2015 at 10:27 PM
The Dallas Cowboys are holding minicamp this week, and even though it's called "mandatory minicamp," wide receiver Dez Bryant isn't there. He wants a long-term contract with the Cowboys rather than his current status as Dallas' franchise-tag player. That will pay him $12,830,000 for the 2015 season – if he signs. Bryant has said he'll sit out the first game of the season if he doesn't get a new deal.
The Atlanta Falcons are holding minicamp this week, too. They also have a wide receiver on a one-year deal in line for a long-term contract. Atlanta used its fifth-year option on Julio Jones' contract to keep the former Alabama star on the team this year at a cost of $10,176,000. Jones is participating in the Falcons' practices this week and plans to be there when training camp opens next month.
One of the reporters gathered around Jones after practice on Wednesday asked the former Foley High School star if he'd considered holding out as Bryant is doing in Dallas.
"No," Jones answered, then explained: "I want to win. If I'm not here, I'm not here for my teammates, I'm being selfish. I don't know what Dez is doing, but I just want to be here and be the best teammate I can be and come out here and lead these guys by example."
At last week's State of the Falcons event, general manager Thomas Dimitroff assured fans a long-term deal to keep Jones in Atlanta was a team priority.
Jones said he didn't know whether a new contract was around the corner. He leaves that up to his agent and the team.
"Only thing I can do -- I'm a player. I just come out here every day, compete, try to get better," Jones said. "That's on my agent, Thomas and the Falcons. I want to be here for a long time, but it's on them to make that decision."
FOR MORE OF AL.COM'S COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
While a holdout hasn't crossed Jones' mind, neither has getting hurt at practice before he signs a new contract.
"It comes with it," Jones said. "You strap it on, any and every day anything can happen. But if you come out here, you play fast, I don't think anything's going to happen. When things happen is when you come out here and you don't give effort, when you come out here and you want to be careful."
RELATED: 'BIGGER, FASTER, STRONGER' JULIO JONES EXPECTS TO IMPROVE ON RECORD-SETTING 2014 SEASON
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/06/julio_jones_on_why_he_wont_hol.html#incart_river
Atlanta Falcons wide receivers Julio Jones catches a pass while being covered by another Atlanta wide receiver, Roddy White, during minicamp on Tuesday, June 16, 2015, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo)
Print Email
By Mark Inabinett | minabinett@al.com AL.com Follow on Twitter
on June 17, 2015 at 10:26 PM, updated June 17, 2015 at 10:27 PM
The Dallas Cowboys are holding minicamp this week, and even though it's called "mandatory minicamp," wide receiver Dez Bryant isn't there. He wants a long-term contract with the Cowboys rather than his current status as Dallas' franchise-tag player. That will pay him $12,830,000 for the 2015 season – if he signs. Bryant has said he'll sit out the first game of the season if he doesn't get a new deal.
The Atlanta Falcons are holding minicamp this week, too. They also have a wide receiver on a one-year deal in line for a long-term contract. Atlanta used its fifth-year option on Julio Jones' contract to keep the former Alabama star on the team this year at a cost of $10,176,000. Jones is participating in the Falcons' practices this week and plans to be there when training camp opens next month.
One of the reporters gathered around Jones after practice on Wednesday asked the former Foley High School star if he'd considered holding out as Bryant is doing in Dallas.
"No," Jones answered, then explained: "I want to win. If I'm not here, I'm not here for my teammates, I'm being selfish. I don't know what Dez is doing, but I just want to be here and be the best teammate I can be and come out here and lead these guys by example."
At last week's State of the Falcons event, general manager Thomas Dimitroff assured fans a long-term deal to keep Jones in Atlanta was a team priority.
Jones said he didn't know whether a new contract was around the corner. He leaves that up to his agent and the team.
"Only thing I can do -- I'm a player. I just come out here every day, compete, try to get better," Jones said. "That's on my agent, Thomas and the Falcons. I want to be here for a long time, but it's on them to make that decision."
FOR MORE OF AL.COM'S COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
While a holdout hasn't crossed Jones' mind, neither has getting hurt at practice before he signs a new contract.
"It comes with it," Jones said. "You strap it on, any and every day anything can happen. But if you come out here, you play fast, I don't think anything's going to happen. When things happen is when you come out here and you don't give effort, when you come out here and you want to be careful."
RELATED: 'BIGGER, FASTER, STRONGER' JULIO JONES EXPECTS TO IMPROVE ON RECORD-SETTING 2014 SEASON
