It’s certainly starting to look like Julio Jones’ 10-year run in an Atlanta Falcons uniform is coming to an end.
After speculation that the Falcons were looking to move on from Jones, NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport reported on Monday that the future hall-of-famer had requested a trade from the Falcons a few months ago.
Clarity on the situation between the #Falcons and WR Julio Jones: The All-Pro requested a trade from the organization a few months ago, sources say, and the team then agreed to listen to offers. That’s how it began and why it continues.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 24, 2021
The Falcons are in salary-cap hell, as they still need to sign their rookie class, and have less than $500,000 in space available to do so. Falcon’s general manager Terry Fontenot said last month that Atlanta would explore all options when attempting to fix their salary-cap issues.
I really don’t want to make this about Julio because we hold the player in high regard – just like you guys do, just like everyone outside this building does. The answer to that is just pointing to the cap and pointing to the fact that we’ll answer calls on any players. When teams ask about players, we have to answer those calls and we have to listen.
We knew when we stepped into this that we were going to have to make some tough decisions, because it’s just the reality of it. That’s where we are with the salary cap. So we have to make some difficult decisions so we have to look at all the different options and all the different scenarios. And so, if someone calls about any player, we have to discuss it and do what’s right for the team. That’s what we’re always going to do. But we hold that player in high regard, we just have to look at every option to get where we need to get.
Adding fuel to the fire, Shannon Sharpe phoned Jones out of the blue Monday while live on Fox Sports’ “Skip and Shannon: Undisputed” to ask him about his future in Atlanta.
SHARPE: You want to go to the Cowboys, Julio? Or do you want to stay in Atlanta?
JONES: I’m out of there man.
SHARPE: Ideally, where would you like to go?
JONES: Right now I want to win.
SHARPE: Well, don’t go to Dallas. You ain’t winning in Dallas, Julio.
JONES: C’mon man, you already know I know.
It’s unclear whether Jones knew he was on live television when Sharpe called — a serious breach of trust as well as a breach of journalistic etiquette if he wasn’t aware — but his answers to the question are clear. Jones wants out of Atlanta.
The Falcons went 4-12 in 2020 and recently hired Arthur Smith as their new head coach. The team is loaded with offensive weapons, drafting the number one tight end in the 2021 NFL Draft in Kyle Pitts, and also have budding wide receiver Calvin Ridley. Jones played in only nine of the Falcons games last season, but still had 771 receiving yards with three touchdowns.
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to [email protected].
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.