Moderatoren » Defensive tackle Chris Jones chose to skip the beginning

KANSAS CITY http://www.houstontexansteamonline.com/kahale-warring-jersey , Mo. — of the Kansas City Chiefs‘ mandatory three-day minicamp Tuesday, the latest step in the growing discord over his looming contract situation.Jones is hoping to parlay the finest season of his career into a massive payday as he enters the final year of his rookie contract. But with negotiations seemingly going nowhere, the affable 24-year-old defensive tackle opted not to participate in the Chiefs’ voluntary workouts.Now that they are mandatory, Jones is risking a fine for being absent this week.Chiefs coach Andy Reid is planning to speak with reporters only on Thursday, when the minicamp wraps up. But his viewpoint is unlikely to have changed from a couple of weeks ago, when he said: “We just go. If you’re here, you get better. If you’re not, you don’t.”It’s hard to imagine Jones being a whole lot better than last season.He appeared in all 16 games and had career highs in just about every meaningful category: 40 total tackles, 29 quarterback hits, 19 tackles for loss and a whopping 15 1/2 sacks.That last number was the most important for a team that desperately needed any pressure it could generate on the quarterback. The Chiefs had arguably the league’s best offense, anchored by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, but they also had perhaps the league’s worst defense.It was that unit that failed miserably in the playoffs, when the Chiefs were unable to stop Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in their overtime loss in the AFC championship game.The Chiefs made major moves to address the defense this offseason, firing coordinator Bob Sutton and hiring Steve Spagnuolo as his replacement. They also jettisoned longtime stalwarts such as Eric Berry and Justin Houston, brought in big names Frank Clark and Tyrann Mathieu, and began the difficult task of changing from a 3-4 system to a 4-3 defensive set.And while Jones’ unique set of abilities should allow him to flourish no matter the system, there is still a learning curve that takes place, and participating in the offseason program would be helpful.“We don’t really talk about it http://www.indianapoliscoltsteamonline.com/bobby-okereke-jersey ,” said Chiefs cornerback Kendall Fuller, when asked about Jones’ absence. “We just focus on our position groups. We mow our own lawn.”To be sure, the guys who showed up at minicamp Tuesday have enough to mow.The Chiefs have a handful of newcomers on offense, including wide receiver Mecole Hardman, their top draft pick. They also are working around missing wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who was suspended from all team activities while the NFL investigates his domestic violence situation.It is likely that Hill will miss at least part of the season.But the bulk of the pressure facing the Chiefs is centered on the defense. Clark and Mathieu are among a dozen newcomers who will be counted on to shore up the sieve-like unit this season, and minicamp is the last chance to work together before training camp in late July.“It’s a long process,” Spagnuolo said. “What I look for right now is building a foundation. I’ve talked extensively with the guys about that. It’s been all about building a foundation of fundamentals.“That goes to communication and to believing in the system,” he added. “I’ve talked extensively about mastering the things that take very little talent. It doesn’t take a lot of talent to communicate or to call out an under route or get aligned. Those little things we need to get taken care of, otherwise it creates holes and then we have problems. So I’m more focused on that.”The rest of the guys? Forgive them for letting their focus wander just a bit, especially given how close the Chiefs came to returning to the Super Bowl for the first time in nearly five decades.“We can be really good. If you’re talking about No. 1 in the league across all of the boards, I feel like that’s the potential we have,” Clark said. “This is a hard league, every game is hard. You think we are going to have the same things happen as last year? No, it’s going to be a little different. You want more success than just runner-up, but you just have to work. It’s a work atmosphere here. I’m just thankful to be a part of it.”100<button class="view-gallery">View Gallery</button> Gallery:View from the sidelines: NFL cheerleaders 2018Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports | Raj Mehta ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP)Rookie receivers Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton are the Denver Broncos‘ new safety valves, applying the pressure but also relieving the burden on veterans Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders .”Those two guys http://www.jacksonvillejaguarsteamonline.com/jawaan-taylor-jersey , they came in like pros, they’re taking care of their business, they’re on time to everything, they’re making plays,” Thomas said Friday. ”So, they’re pushing us. And that’s good for us. We need it. We want to push each other and make each other better.”While Sutton has made a splash at training camp so far with daily highlight-reel catches and Hamilton has drawn his share of applause, Thomas and Sanders are quietly having very good camps themselves.Thomas’ stats have steadily declined every season since his peak in 2014, and his streak of five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons ended last year when he finished 51 yards shy.Sanders dealt with injuries and his two TD catches were his fewest since 2012.Part of the problem in 2017 was that the Broncos had nobody around them – a third receiver, a tight end, a running back – who could really force teams to quit bracketing Thomas and Sanders.That’s no longer the case .In addition to Sutton and Hamilton, the Broncos added rookie running backs Royce Freeman, David Williams and Philip Lindsay (undrafted) along with another Big Ten tight end in Troy Fumagalli to go with Jake Butt, who missed his rookie season last year while recovering from knee surgery.Sutton, Hamilton and Fumagalli are members of general manager John Elway’s already-celebrated draft class of 2018 that featured experience – all 10 players spent four years in school – and leadership – most were captains in college.Safety Justin Simmons said he’s just like all the fans whooping and hollering at practice – he’s energized by and excited about the Broncos’ rookies.”Oh, for sure. Especially Chubb,” Simmons said of first-round pick Bradley Chubb, whose ability to chase down quarterbacks ”makes my job 50 times easier.”Sutton’s making his job harder.”Oh yeah http://www.jacksonvillejaguarsteamonline.com/gardner-minshew-ii-jersey , Sutton’s been great. He’s been out here making plays,” Simmons said. ”He’s just another guy that’s just humble and hungry, coming in here ready to work.”That’s been the theme of this year’s draft class, which also includes cornerback Isaac Yiadom, inside linebackers Keishan Bierria, Josey Jewell (who practiced Friday for the first time after pulling a hamstring in June) and guard Sam Jones.Last season, several veterans took the 2017 draft class, which was filled with raw athleticism and projects, to task for their work ethic, complaining that too many of them came off as entitled.This year’s class drew quick praise from the veterans.”There’s no complaining,” defensive end Derek Wolfe said. ”That’s the one thing that you notice from an immature draft class, is that they complain a lot, whine and cry a lot. There’s none of that coming from this group.”Humble. Hungry.”It’s a mature class,” coach Vance Joseph said. ”It’s been seven or eight guys that have shown they can help us win.”Sutton’s doing it with spectacular plays every day, and Hamilton’s sprinkling in his share, too.”I’ll tell you what, we’ve got some good rookies,” Sanders said. ”I was just over there with my family and Courtland just runs over to say http://www.losangelesramsteamonline.com/darrell-henderson-jersey , `Hey, I’m going to take your helmet.’ And that’s what we need.”Players willing to pay their dues but eager to make their mark.Also turning heads is Chubb, the fifth overall pick in the draft who reminds defensive tackle Domata Peko Sr. of superstar Von Miller .”He’s quick, he’s strong and he can get to the passer. He’s disruptive and he’s willing to learn,” Peko said after getting his first glimpse of the 2018 class. ”He’s always talking to Von and asking, `Hey, what can I do?’ That’s good to see out of a rookie.”Peko also singled out Sutton and Jewell as players he’s thrilled to play alongside.”These guys are going to make a difference for us,” Peko said. ”They’re only going to help our team. I love our new guys.”Notes: Simmons said the league’s new helmet rule was going to be the main topic when players meet with NFL officials visiting the Broncos to go over the new rule changes. … On the sixth day of training camp, QB Case Keenum was finally intercepted, by S Will Parks. ”He’s human,” Joseph said. … The Broncos signed WR Bryce Bobo, a rookie from Colorado, and designated WR Kenny Bell as waived/injured.—