- The invisible man has a lot in common with Jones in his hold-out.
Reshad Jones’ threat to hold-out wasn’t just hot air.
It’s official: Reshad Jones is serious about his hold-out. His no-show at mandatory mini-camp means Jones is willing to hurt the Dolphins plans and that financial repercussions of up to 76k won’t deter him in his pursuit of a more lucrative contract.
In a short re-cap:
Jones had a short lived hold-out and then signed a new contract in 2013. He followed it up with a four-game suspension for PED’s.
When he returned, he had a very good season in his 12 starts.
2015 was spectacular as we all know, and he now is holding out again.
There are usually three camps of opinions on this situation that I’ve been seeing:
‘Players need to honor the contract they signed, so trade him or move on’;
‘Pay the man’, he is crucial to the defense and Miami can’t let another young talent walk’;
‘NFL teams don’t honor their contracts, so why should he? It’s business’.
I can see the truth in each perspective, and since I’d like to look at a fourth perspective, I’ll let it rest on, “to each, his own”.
This fourth perspective I see is centered on the team building precedent that’s being set.
Shula, Marino, Zach, Taylor and to a lesser extent Cox were the only Dolphins that vied for my loyalty over the Dolphins. Older and jaded, no player is even close to vying for my Fins loyalty these days, so it’s all about the TEAM, and the TEAM’S pursuit of rings.
Jones’ hold-out might be partially based on the fact the last 2yrs has zero guaranteed money.
Whatever decision management decides as the “right” course of action will have a ripple effect on future contracts of other players as agents will use this as a starting point for their clients.
If the Dolphins buckle, how many hold-outs are lurking on the horizon? Will players who over-perform begin to hold-out one or two years into a contract as a norm for this Dolphins regime?
Then there is the opposite end of the spectrum. Do the Dolphins take such a hard-line stance that bitterness leads into a protracted hold-out and compromises this season and possibly this young coaching staff with the loss of a star player in a weak unit?
Yes, Jones is only one player, but dominoes could fall in such a way that that one player could be an anchor that drags the 2016 season to the bottom of the NFL standings.
Mike Tannenbaum must show strength, wisdom, tact, and be a bit of used car dealer to navigate this course – for the team’s well being. A deal must be done where management looks like it came out on top…by a little, but Jones decides it’s too good not to bite early.
Of course, there is always the option of trading Jones. But, trades are tricky and complicated. And it would be a real long-shot with even the best sportsbooks that Miami would recoup it’s losses this season by acquiring players, as the compensation would more than likely be picks that would only help 2017.
Dolphins can’t kneel to Jones, and the Dolphins can’t be so adamant in breaking Jones that they damage the team.
It’s a business deal over a crucial player that would be wise to maintain some honor for both sides.
A precedent is being set on how they control the cap, on how they control Jones, on how they control future contracts and their stars. This new regime is attempting to build a winning franchise and their isn’t anything more important on how you manage players and their contracts for success in the NFL. Go Fins!!!