The Most Important Game of the 2023 Season

David Bell

What do I mean by the title? On September 7th — 13 days from now — the Kansas City Chiefs will face the Detroit Lions. On that day, the most important game of the season will be played at Arrowhead Stadium. Game time is 7:20 P.M., CDT. Of course, after that game ends, the most important game will then be vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 17th, on the road.

From that, I think you get the gist of my title’s reference.

How Chris Jones’ Holdout is Now Hurting the Chiefs

• He won’t be in game shape for the first opponent even if he reports tomorrow
• From today onward, his leadership won’t be the same — probably will never be again
• It’s obvious that his objective is not what he has publicly verbalized
• HC Andy Reid observed in his presser that there was no communication with Jones
• Jones is also putting young players at risk by forcing DL Coach, Joe Cullen and DC Coach, Steve Spagnuolo to lean on more rookies and that puts the team at risk, game by game
• He has also harmed the Chiefs Kingdom (Fanship) by the holdout – they have believed in Jones for several seasons
• He has let down the coaching staff and front office
• If he holds out for 8 full games, which he tweeted he’ll do, he won’t be available for three division games- weeks 6-8
• He may force Brett Veach to add a veteran DT and perhaps also a DE (Carlos Dunlap gets my vote here, even if CJ returns tomorrow)
• The most important opinion about the Jones holdout is that of the fans who have lost faith
• Jones’ agent, and the NFLPA, do not have the Chiefs best interests at heart
• Every team has Super Bowl aspirations — the Jones holdout is damaging to those aspirations

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So, My View Has Shifted

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Jones tweeted this a couple of days ago:

“If it’s out of your hands, it deserves freedom from your mind also.”

pic.twitter.com/MS73KgU1F9

— Chris Jones (@StoneColdJones) August 22, 2023

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That tells me his agent and the NFLPA are making the decisions, or, at least, CJ is excusing himself. At this point, I am no longer on CJ’s side. I fervently hope that Brett Veach doesn’t give in. Had I held out and not reported to work at any point in my four-career life, I would not have had a job the next day.

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He also X’d:

Taking to “X” once more: he responded to a fan, making it clear that he was willing to hold out until Week 8 of the regular season. “Arrowhead Live” responded to Jones by writing, “That’s a hefty tab,” to which CJ replied, “I can afford it.”

The more I thought about it, the worse my thinking became. True, but can he afford to physically and mentally be a Chief from this point on? He is losing fan support and taking orders from the NFLPA. I posted this comment for ArrowheadOne on the 24th:

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“My view about the CJ situation has shifted. even if he signed tomorrow, he wouldn’t be ready for Saturday. He is now affecting the Chiefs and he knows it. Time for him to go. Tag and trade in 2024 and put up with his antics until he reports. Do Not Forgive his fines either.”

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You might think that’s a strange view coming from me since I was big on CJ from the start.

Loyalty is a two-way street. Needless to say, I am not a happy camper. If CJ plays in 2023, then it will be on the Chiefs terms, not that of CJ, his agent or the NFLPA. Then tag & trade him away in 2024. That is my only answer. If Jones is intent on holding out 8 games — trade his butt, ASAP.

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What Does This Mean to You?

The Chiefs are prepping for Preseason Game #3 — without CJ! I think this has great import for 2023. Do You? PJ Green wrote the following piece for FOX4KC.com called: “Chiefs prepare for last preseason game without DT Chris Jones” and in it he quoted HC Andy Reid as saying:

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“I don’t know what’s gonna go there.

But whatever happens happens.

The game goes on, right?

So that’s how it works.”

-Andy Reid

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I am highly disappointed and for good reason. I have touted Chris Jones since before the NFL draft in 2016, the year he was drafted 37th overall. I cannot help but feel negative about this. Charles Goldman has a piece for AtoZSports.com called: “Chris Jones holdout is hurting Chiefs’ salary cap situation” in which he says:

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“According to the NFLPA public salary cap report, the Chiefs sit at less than $200K in salary cap space. That’s the least among all 32 teams in the NFL and makes them one of only two teams with less than $1 million in cap space. While there is the more tangible realization by fans that Jones might not play in Week 1 of the regular season (or longer), the lack of a contract extension also causes a financial dilemma. 

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I do not know how all the Chiefs Kingdom fans feel about this, but I do get a sense about it from the various comments the past few days at ArrowheadOne. Here’s Rich Eisen’s take on the CJ situation (4:33):

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The NFL Fans are the reason for the game. Without them, the next most important game becomes meaningless.

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David Bell — ArrowheadOne

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