Falcons WR Julio Jones seeks new contract, but won't be holding out for it

Every NFL off-season a number of players sit out of team programs, including training camp, as they look to negotiate a better contract.

This summer, that list includes Texas star DE Jadeveon Clowney, Lions CB Darius Slay, Saints receiver Michael Thomas and Chiefs DE Chris Jones. All are looking at restructuring their current deals and may not be in uniform when training camp opens later this month.

Not among that group of disgruntled contract-seekers: Julio Jones. 

The four-time All-Pro receiver for the Atlanta Falcons wants a new contract as well. Jones has two years left on his deal which will may him roughly $21 million. That ranks 12th in average salaries among WRs -- most would agree Jones' market value far exceeds his current compensation.

Jones is ranked No. 7 in CBS Sports' Top 100 players for 2019 from Pete Prisco -- and the No. 1 receiver in the league.

So why won't he be on the sidelines as well? Because he's received a guarantee from Falcons owner Arthur Blank that a deal will get done. And that's good enough for Jones.

"Mr. Blank gave us his word. That's golden," Jones told TMZ. "There's no stress on my end. I'm not thinking about it.

"He makes it easy for me to go out and just work every day and not have one of those situations where there's a holdout or anything like that," he said.

Jones held out last off-season before getting his contract adjusted. It looks like that won't happen again. Blank himself has said he plans to make Jones a Falcon "for life."

Jones had a monster 2018 season, catching 113 passes for 1,677 yards and eight TDs. The Falcons last year finished 7-9 and out of the playoffs. They're at 30-1 odds to win the 2020 Super Bowl, ninth-lowest in the NFC, kicking off the regular season on Sept. 9 at the Minnesota Vikings as four-point underdogs.