Falcons owner Arthur Blank expects wide receiver Julio Jones, who’s up for a contract extension, to be a lifetime Falcon.
“We are in the middle of those discussions,” Blank said on Sunday. “We expect Julio to be lifer for the Falcons. We are moving forward and have every reason to be positive and be enthusiastic about it.”
Blank said there isn’t a timeline for the deal being completed.
“We’re moving as quickly as we can,” Blank said. “The player has been fabulous. He came into camp in great shape. He’s working all-out. There is no hesitation or question on his part. We are working with a very professional agent, who actually understands the business. He actually handled the last two wide receivers contracts, which helps a good bit.”
With the offseason signs of Denver’s Demaryirus Thomas and Dallas’ Dez Bryant to five-year, $70 million contracts, the markets has been set for Jones’ deal. He’s expected to land a deal that will average $15.25 million, by Joel Corry, a former agent and sports business analyst for CBS Sports.
“I think whatever the market is,” Blank said. “We look at Julio as certainly being in that class. The specifics, his length of contract and where he is in his contract terms is different than those players were.
“All of that needs to be built into the new deal that is done. We view him as one of the top receivers in the NFL and we think that most people do as well.
“It’s a business transaction, a business deal that we have to get through. …. We are dealing in good faith. We expect him to be here for his entire career. I think the agent does as well and the player does as well.”
The Falcons are not concerned with Jones’ injury history with his right foot.
“We’ve gotten the best medical advice, really in the world,” Blank said. “He’s followed their program last year to a tee. This year, he’s been able to do more in the offseason and it reflects in how he looks at camp.”
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