It’s being interpreted as an ominous comment by some or even backtracking on a positive picture earlier but in essense nothing has changed on Jaylon Johnson’s contract status.
At the Pro Bowl Games on the weekend, Johnson said something to NFL.com entirely neutral, and it’s being blown up into a negative comment.
“Heart’s definitely in Chicago, mind’s definitely on the money,” Johnson said “So, I mean, we’ll figure out if we can make them both come together and get something done. I’m looking forward to see what’s to come.”
Johnson’s comments sound no different than what he said in mid-January on a podcast with Keyshawn Johnson. In fact, the comment was a little less controversial than the comment to Keyshanw Johnson.
“I think the ball is in my court, the ball is in my favor,” Johnson said on “All Facts No Brakes.” “Really, I think it’s just a matter of time when it happens. But I think really going into the negotiation, I don’t think it’s too much really to talk about. I feel like there’s no reason I can’t be the highest-paid corner in the league.”
The comments were both nothing more than confirmation of what GM Ryan Poles said at season’s end about getting together later and that Johnson isn’t going to be with another team.
“We have really good communication,” Poles said. “The big thing was just kind of take a break here after the season and then we’ll start talks again.
“I feel really good about that situation. Jaylon’s not going to go anywhere and we’ll work through it to get something done.”
The reason Johnson isn’t going anywhere is, in the end he Bears can simply tag him to keep him in Chicago. And if they wanted, they could do it for the next two years.
This doesn’t mean it will be a friendly situation or it won’t.
If Johnson got tagged, he could do things like not come to off-season voluntary workouts the way Allen Robinson refused. Some players don’t come to minicamps when they are tagged, or even to part of training camp.
However, in the end the team has control of the situation and it still sounds like both sides want to try to work out a long-term deal.
Johnson believes he deserves pay with the best players at his position after making four interception in 2023. He now has five for his career.
“Probably the only thing I have (against me) was not getting turnovers,” Johnson told NFL.com. “But now, this year, I started getting some turnovers, creating. I feel like I’ve always been an exceptional cover guy, so just being able to impact the game and make plays in the air is something I wanted to do, and I went out and did that. And now everybody knows I can take the ball away. So, I feel like there’s really not a box I can’t check.”
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