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Kansas City Chiefs superstar tight end Travis Kelce is pleading with teammate Chris Jones to return the team, even going as far as to say that Jones is “scaring” him.
Jones, a four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle and 2022 first-team All-Pro, claims that he plans on holding out until Week 8 of the 2023 NFL season.
The star defensive lineman is in the final year of a four-year, $80 million contract and is reportedly seeking a deal in the vicinity of the three-year, $95 million contract that Aaron Donald signed with the Los Angeles Rams.
Both Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and star quarterback Patrick Mahomes have expressed their hopes that Jones will return prior to the start of the regular season on Sept. 7 against the Detroit Lions.
#Chiefs HC Andy Reid on DT Chris Jones: "There's been no communication, so I don't know what's going to go there. Whatever happens, happens, and if he's not there, the game goes on, right? That's how it works. … There's just been no communication."
Chiefs season-opener is in… pic.twitter.com/NJxTOKyXUG
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 23, 2023
And now it appears it’s Kelce’s turn to weigh in on the matter.
“Chris, can you please come back? You’re really scaring me,” Kelce said (47:00 mark of the video) on the “New Heights” podcast with his brother, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce. “I don’t get it. You must know something that I don’t know because I just don’t get it. I really want to get another Super Bowl ring with you, brother. This is me bargaining you to just come back and play football for the Chiefs. Please, we need you. We need you bad.”
Jason then proceeded to say that Jones should hold out “as long as possible.” Or at least until after the Chiefs square off the with the Eagles in Week 10.
“He’s the best defensive player in the league right now,” Travis responded. “He’s deserving of all the money in the world. Chris, I love you, please come back. Now.”
Whether his impassioned plea to his teammate will work is yet to be seen. Though he probably shouldn’t get his hopes up.