A Dynasty Dilemma: Chris Jones’ holdout and surrounding conversation
Written and submitted by one of our subscribers, Ross Sawyer
The Kansas City Chiefs find themselves at the heart of what is shaping up to be the pinnacle era in their history.
It was difficult to fathom a more potent offense than the one led by Trent Green, Tony Gonzalez, Priest Holmes, and the remarkable offensive line. As Chiefs fans, we've witnessed talented teams succumb to fatal flaws or unfortunate twists of fate. We've grown accustomed to anticipating things to crumble. Yet, here we stand.
With Patrick Mahomes at the helm, the realm of possibilities seems boundless. With him steering the ship, our constant reality is hosting the AFC championship game and clinching two Super Bowl victories in just five years. The discourse isn't centered around whether the Chiefs will vie for another Super Bowl; rather, it revolves around the number of Super Bowls they can claim and the legacy they'll etch.
That potential legacy, I believe, is what makes the current contractual impasse between Chris Jones and the Chiefs front office so difficult for fans to deal with. We used to fear the bad bounce of the ball or a missed tackle. This time around, we're scrutinizing for that hidden flaw in roster building, striving to discern the potential chink in the armor that might mar this budding dynasty.
Our shared anticipation of eventual disappointment fuels our anxiety and frustration. Our hopes are pinned on our team, our city, and the elusive glory we yearn for. We desire unbridled success for our cherished squad.
With that as background, here is my hot take for the current discourse I see online: Fans should be expected to be emotionally involved with their team AND players decisions should be met with respect, even if you disagree.
On this particular subject, the opposing Twitter factions of “Players should just shut up and be happy they get paid millions!” and “Fans shouldn’t care, they’re not in the locker room” strike me as, to be blunt, stupid.
The NFL thrives because fans invest their emotions in its product. The emotional stake fans hold is what propels the league to unprecedented financial heights. Our tears of elation and frustration, be they joyful or seething, bolster the bottom line. The league, and especially its players, should actively encourage fan engagement and nurture this symbiotic connection.
To put it simply, alienating fans directly impacts their coffers. So when fans are upset that a star player is potentially disrupting the greatest run of success the city will ever see- we should accept that it’s going to cause the team’s fan some angst.
However, there's a counterbalancing truth: fans have no business berating players on social media for their contract disagreements. If this enrages you, allow me a moment to elaborate before you unleash your comments. Some players earn staggering sums due to their exceptional abilities—Chris Jones absolutely falls into this category. The sheer financial figures being bandied about are inconceivable to the average fan.
An oft-repeated sentiment I encounter online goes something like this: "Players ink multimillion-dollar contracts; they should honor their commitments." Aside from the reality that teams frequently release players when the contract's perceived value diminishes, we often possess scant insight into these players' lives beyond the gridiron.
Some players shoulder the financial hopes of their entire families, like Trent Richardson. Some studies show that roughly 1 in every 6 players will be bankrupt after their time in the NFL. Others may face limited earnings potential while enduring the enduring toll extracted during their football careers, akin to Junior Seau. We've all heard accounts of players lifting entire communities out of poverty, à la Warrick Dunn.
We possess only a fleeting grasp of these men and their lives. Hence, venturing onto social media to lambast them for their perceived lack of allegiance to an organization they may only represent for a few additional years seems narrow-minded and superficial.
I want to have a better conversation about the potential anxiety riddled realities of a star player holding out without watching fans berate the player in question. And I’m pretty sure I’m not alone.
We're on the cusp of cementing an indelible dynasty, one that could be mentioned in the same breath as the Steelers, Cowboys, and Patriots. Let's avoid allowing our emotional investment in our team to foster online outbursts that breed resentment among our standout players.
This brings me back to the inception of this article. We're currently witnessing the most astounding statistical commencement by any individual quarterback in history. Let that notion sink in for a moment. These are the days of triumph. Is it truly prudent to squander them by fixating on the future, when Pat has repeatedly demonstrated an extraordinary ability to triumph against insurmountable odds?
Personally, I've opted to relish every second of these moments. I hope you'll join me in doing the same.
Great job, Ross. Let's not leave this time period marred with bitterness. It feels like this was already done with Mathieu and the fans and I do not want to see the same happen with Chris Jones.
This article is spot on. Whichever “side” you are on, berating CJ, Veach and Hunt is both juvenile and destructive. It feeds negativity and Super Bowls are not won on negativity. I am weary of CJ being called out because he wants too much and Veach and Hunt being called out for being cheap. The bottom line is CJ wants to be with the Chiefs and get paid and management wants CJ on the team, BUT he must fit under the salary cap along with 52 other players over the next few years. Everyone MUST edit under the salary cap. It doesn’t matter how much money the owner does or doesn’t have. Neither side is at fault here. If we’re easy it would already be done.