The Dolphins haven’t started contract talks with safety Reshad Jones after his brief absence from the team’s offseason workouts ended with a promise that the impending free agent’s deal would be discussed.
If that should remain the case into the regular season, Jones has a plan to force the Dolphins’ hand. Jones, who defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle thinks will be a “very, very good player” for many years, wants to build on a strong 2012 season and put himself onto the highest level of safeties in the entire league.
“I can only get better,” Jones said, via the team’s website. “I got the ball rolling in the right direction and I just told myself I want to be recognized as one of the premiere safeties in this league. I think last year I went out and showed that to the world and I just want to keep it going.”
The appeal of the security provided by a long-term contract is obvious, although there’s no doubt that Jones would stand to make a bigger financial splash if he can put together another season like the one he turned in for Miami in 2012. The flip side for the Dolphins is locking in Jones now means weighing the risk that he doesn’t build on last season with the risk that he winds up raising his price on the field.
That would be a good thing for the defense, if not their bottom line, and it makes the negotiations an interesting storyline to watch as the Dolphins head toward camp.