In July of 2021, former NFL agent Joel Corry wrote a CBS Sports activities article explaining why holding out throughout coaching camp was not a bargaining instrument for veteran NFL gamers. Corry argued that the brand new preseason advantageous construction specified by Article 42, Part 1 (b) (vii) of the 2020 Collective Bargaining Settlement (CBA) between the league and the NFL Gamers Affiliation (NFLPA) would make such a technique untenable.
However it seems that Corry by no means counted on the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ Chris Jones and his brokers. The All-Professional defensive sort out desires a multi-year extension to his contract — which runs via this season — and he’s holding out till he will get it. But it surely’s costing him a fairly penny.
How a lot cash is Jones’ holdout costing him?
Jones is continuous to build up a each day non-reporting advantageous that started on Friday, July 21 — his coaching camp reporting date. At this writing on Monday, August 14, that’s 25 days at $50,000 per day, which is $1,250,000.
When he didn’t report for Sunday’s preseason recreation in opposition to the New Orleans Saints, he generated a advantageous of $1,083,333, which is 1/18 of his $19,500,000 base wage for 2023.
And let’s not overlook that when he missed the group’s three-day minicamp in June, he drew a CBA-mandated $98,753 advantageous for being absent for these required practices — and had already missed his $500,000 bonus for failing to take part within the voluntary offseason program.
That provides as much as a cool $2.9 million.
However as unhealthy as that’s, it may worsen. Below the CBA, each day coaching camp fines are charged up via the final Sunday earlier than the common season begins. For Jones this yr, that’s 45 days. So if he misses the entire preseason, he could possibly be fined one other $1 million in each day fines — together with $2,166,666 for lacking the final two exhibition video games.
That’s a possible whole of $6.1 million. Whoa!
Earlier than the present CBA, these sorts of fines could possibly be waived or decreased by the group — however the 2020 CBA particularly prohibits this. The fines don’t go to the league or to the group. As confirmed by a dependable supply, they’re similar to fines for on-field violations through the season: they go to a charity specified by the NFLPA. The fines don’t have any impact on the wage cap — though the Chiefs will get a credit score of $500,000 in opposition to the 2024 cap for Jones’ unearned exercise bonus.
Why is Jones permitting himself to be fined?
Right here, the reply appears fairly apparent: as a result of he thinks he can earn extra in a brand new contract extension than he pays in fines.
Whereas we don’t have a transparent concept of precisely how a lot cash Jones desires — or how a lot the group is providing — this means that the 2 sides are a minimum of $3 million aside in whole contract worth.
It has been prompt that Jones merely hates coaching camp — and is prepared to pay for the privilege of lacking it. That could be an inexpensive argument till he misses a preseason recreation, which prices about the identical as lacking 21 days of coaching camp.
It’s extra probably that Jones was merely prepared to danger a number of million in fines, hoping he may get the Chiefs to panic on the negotiating desk. But it surely’s exhausting to think about that he intends to carry out your complete coaching camp — or any regular-season video games, every of which can even price him $1,083,333 in misplaced earnings.
May Jones insist that the Chiefs pay his fines for him?
Positive. He can insist on no matter he desires. He may even maintain out for a contract that pays him sufficient to compensate for the fines he’ll finally be assessed — as a result of whereas the CBA prohibits groups from waiving or lowering these fines, it can not legislate what’s in a participant’s thoughts. If Jones received’t be glad except he feels the Chiefs are paying his fines for him, the league’s settlement with the union can’t cease him from asking for sufficient cash to make it so.
However right here’s the factor: Jones has to pay the fines out of cash the Chiefs have already paid him. The group has already accounted for that cash underneath the wage cap. If the group believes that Jones’ wage calls for are one way or the other tied to how a lot he owes in fines, a common supervisor may immediately refuse to as soon as once more account for that cash underneath the cap.
The underside line
I believe Jones will report back to the group someday after the ultimate coaching camp apply. That can happen this Thursday.
However I don’t assume it will likely be as a result of he doesn’t wish to spend the evening in a dorm room. I simply imagine that Jones would like that he will get again into soccer form throughout personal practices on the group’s coaching facility, slightly than in entrance of the rabid followers who come to look at the group apply at Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph. By the top of the week, it’s going to even be concerning the level the place there’s simply sufficient apply time (and preseason recreation time) to be prepared for the Week 1 recreation in opposition to the Detroit Lions.
It comes all the way down to this: if Jones can not get a contract extension with the Chiefs — which appears extra probably with every passing day — nothing will probably be extra necessary to him than enjoying each recreation of 2023 just like the All-Professional he was in 2022. Meaning it’s time to get again to work.
Because the late Terez Paylor so usually reminded us, the contract yr is undefeated.
