Social media reacts to Falcons playing hardball with Julio Jones

By Max E. Marcovitch

July 23, 2018

It has become clear that the Falcons won’t be offering Julio Jones a new contract before the season.

Jones, who didn’t attend OTAs or mandatory minicamp, is seeking an extension -- and presumably a raise -- on the five-year deal he signed in 2016. Here’s a sampling of the social media reaction -- on both sides -- with players set to report to training camp Thursday.

NEW: Falcons tell Julio Jones there will be no new contract this year. https://t.co/QX94LBmGuf pic.twitter.com/ZBhXCdUx9u
— AJC (@ajc) July 19, 2018

Sure, what has he done for the Falcons, except EVERTHING :/
— Jen (@JenJBrun) July 19, 2018

A small minority decided Jones was not worth the problems, offering that he was perhaps overrated.

@929TheGame stop making excuses for this diva. Julio Jones has not been in the top 20 of scoring and it last two three years. Numbers don't lie. Somehow even though Antonio Brown gets bracketed every play... the Steelers managed to find him in the endzone and every other place on
— We're Just Men. (@WereJustMenAtl) July 22, 2018

Even that the Falcons should consider trading the star wideout.

So Julio Jones will not be getting a new contract from the #Falcons. This thing is about to get ugly if he doesn’t report to training camp. I’d trade his butt if he doesn’t.
— Mitch Evans (@TheMitchSports) July 19, 2018

Others, though, cited the harsh realities of the business of football.

The Falcons front office is dictating terms to Julio based on strength of track record . DQ/TD believe they’ll be here post Julio Jones era...not going to create the precedent of negotiating deals with three years left. We have entered the final years of Julio as a Falcon.
— Los Medina (@FrontOfficeLos) July 19, 2018

The ball is in Julio Jones' court since the Falcons aren't going to adjust his contract. He needs to decide whether he wants to try to force the issue through a training camp holdout. The consolation is a commitment from the Falcons to renegotiate after the season.
— Joel Corry (@corryjoel) July 19, 2018

Still, that reality does little to ease some concern that Jones may not be a Falcon for the entirety of his career.

@steakshapiro @BFinn86 @680TheFan The @AtlantaFalcons may have the leverage, but @juliojones_11 is the straw that stirs the drink....Matt is not going to win critical games against the best teams without Julio. Period. Stop playing the what could have been game re: @Eagles loss
— East Atlanta Ron (@EastAtlantaRon) July 23, 2018