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The NFL has new rules for summer training. They stopped hard two-a-day practices in the hot sun. Now, teams have more meetings and watch videos instead of practicing on the field.
This change has made early-season games messy.
Last year, 25 teams skipped traditional training camps. But not the Kansas City Chiefs. Head coach Andy Reid is famous for having the toughest training camp in the league.
This year will be no different. The Chiefs are set to start their training camp at Missouri Western State University on July 21.
One Chiefs player already dreads the tough month ahead.
Chris Jones, a defensive tackle for the Chiefs, is negotiating with Andy Reid for some time off during training camp. During his youth football camp in Overland Park, Jones shared that these negotiations are not about money this time.
“Listen man, I’ve already been talking to Andy about, ‘Let me skip out on training camp. I’m a little older, right?’” Jones said, as reported by the Kansas City Star. “I can feel it. I can feel when we have a day on training camp. Give me like two days off and one day on then, and we maybe can work something out, you know?”
Jones missed last year’s training camp due to contract talks that extended into the regular season. He missed the first game but eventually signed a one-year deal in September and still had an impressive season. He recorded 29 quarterback hits and tied for the team lead with 10½ sacks.
This offseason, Jones signed a massive five-year, $158 million contract with $95 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid interior defensive lineman in the league.
With this new deal, Jones has no excuse to sit out of training camp, and Reid doesn’t seem willing to budge either. Jones mentioned that Reid “just looked at [him]” when he brought it up.
Jones, who turns 30 next week, is entering his ninth NFL season and hopes some rest will help him stay fresh for another deep playoff run.
“If I’m able to do a day on, a day off, or a day on and a half a day [off], I can do that,” Jones said. “I think it’s pretty fun.”
Jones has been crucial for Kansas City’s defense and played key roles in their three Super Bowl wins over the past five years.
Last season alone saw him lead the team to having the second-best scoring defense in the league.
But despite his efforts, it’s unlikely that Reid will grant him any relief from training camp duties.
