Dolphins GM Grier addresses CB Jones’ future with the team
INDIANAPOLIS — One of the key components to the Miami Dolphins’ offseason will be what the team does with cornerback Byron Jones and his contract.
It only became a hotter topic over the weekend as Jones, the former Uconn star and New Britain, Conn., native, released inflammatory tweets regarding the medical care he received while rehabbing from his lower left leg surgery in March 2022 before ultimately missing the entire season as he didn’t make the necessary progress.
Dolphins general manager Chris Grier, speaking to a small group of beat reporters Wednesday at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, indicated it’s a fluid situation with Jones.
“You have to look at every option,” Grier said. “You always have to look at all different scenarios and plan for best-case and worst-case scenarios. Right now, we’re not making any assumptions on anything, and just let him continue to attack his rehab and see what happens.
“I think we’re in a good spot. He’s working hard trying to get back into play, and he’s been in communication with us through the process.”
Jones signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the Dolphins in the 2020 offseason. He carries a cap hit of roughly $18.35 million in 2023, but none of his $13.5 million base salary is guaranteed. If Miami releases Jones with a post-june 1 designation, it can cut his dead money to about $4.75 million — as opposed to roughly $14.8 million if cut pre-june 1.
“He’s under contract with us,” Grier said. “Right now, is back in Florida, kind of looking over the team, so obviously he’s going to have some say in this, I think, with his scheme and what we’ re doing. And also, we’ll talk with Byron, too, so a lot of moving parts right now. Not running around an answer, but that’s kind of where we are right now.”
Jones, who spent the first five seasons of his career with the Dallas Cowboys, including one Pro Bowl campaign in 2018, has 95 tackles, two interceptions and 14 pass deflections in two seasons in Miami before missing the 2022 campaign.
Saturday, Jones made incendiary, revelatory and somewhat cryptic remarks about how his rehab has gone wrong.
He said he can’t run or jump due to his injuries. Jones then went on a seemingly accusatory route with his comments.
“DO NOT take the pills they give you,” he tweeted. “DO NOT take the injections they give you. If you absolutely must, consult an outside doctor to learn the long-term implications.”
Grier said he was on a flight to Indianapolis on Saturday, getting out to the combine early when the tweets were posted. The team has been working out the issues with Jones and his agent since.