One of the Dolphins’ best defensive players was reportedly absent from the team’s workout on Monday.
Safety Reshad Jones was not present for their workout on Monday. Presence is voluntary at these workouts, but Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports that the Dolphins didn’t know where Jones was and spent most of the morning trying to track him down after he’d been a regular participant so far this offseason. Neither Jones nor his agent returned phone calls seeking comment about his whereabouts.
Salguero also reports that there has been speculation among some of Jones’ teammates that the safety is unhappy with the slow pace of negotiations regarding a new contract. Jones’ rookie deal expires after the 2013 season and there have reportedly been “intermittent discussions” about a deal that would keep Jones in Miami for the long term.
Jones started every game for the Dolphins last season and led the team with four interceptions. That helped him hit escalators in his contract that bumped his 2013 salary from $575,000 to $1.323 million, which is likely well below what he’s seeking in a longer deal. As with most players under contract, Jones has limited leverage once mandatory work gets underway so this absence may linger through OTAs if the contract is indeed the reason for Jones’ absence.
With the franchise-tagged defensive tackle Randy Starks also looking for a new deal, Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland still has a good bit on their plate after an offseason that’s been a busy one in Miami right from the opening bell.
UPDATE 2:43 p.m. ET: An earlier version of this story indicated Monday was the first day of the OTAs. The Dolphins reached out to PFT to clarify that Jones missed a workout today and that OTAs officially begin on Tuesday, something Salguero has also updated in his original report. The team does not know if Jones will be in attendance Tuesday or whether he was absent.