Falcons owner Arthur Blank was undeterred about the news that star wide receiver Julio Jones plans to sit out of training camp.
Blank still believes that Jones will be a “Falcon for life” and he doesn’t plan to get involved in the negotiations at this time. Jones plans to hold out in a contract dispute after he missed voluntary and mandatory sessions this summer.
Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Dan Quinn are co-leaders of the football operations.
“That’s their job and it’s my job to support them,” Blank said when reached on his cell phone in New York on Tuesday. “If they need help, they’ll ask for it. I’m always available to them and they know it.”
The Falcons are set to report to camp on Thursday. The first practice is schedule for Friday.
“He’s going to be a Falcon for life,” Blank said. “I’m convinced of that and so is he. We’ll take it from there. But we are all focused on the same thing. I think that we are in good shape.”
The Falcons told Jones they have not budgeted for a renegotiation this offseason and are focused on contract extensions for defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, left tackle Jake Matthews and free safety Ricardo Allen.
Jones was informed of the team’s decision several weeks ago, following the mandatory minicamp in June. Jones was also told the team may be willing to rework his contract next year, one year before they typically work on extensions.
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