Falcons' Blank: Relationship with Julio changed after bitter extension talks

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank shared details about how the relationship between the franchise and star receiver Julio Jones came to an end on Tuesday.

Following 10 years with the Falcons, Jones was traded to the Tennessee Titans in June. The deal came less than two seasons after Jones signed a three-year, $66-million extension with Atlanta. Blank believes the relationship deteriorated during those contract talks.

"It's easy to look back with hindsight and say, 'Should we have done that?' Look back at the Julio situation in 2019. We, being (former GM) Thomas (Dimitroff), (former coach Dan) Quinn, the player and his agent (Jimmy Sexton), were all kind of at odds with each other," Blank said to Jeff Schultz of The Athletic.

"We got a contract done. We felt it was very generous. It made him the top paid receiver in NFL history. But for whatever reason, he felt it wasn't sufficient respect. I don't know why he'd feel that way, but he did feel that way."

Blank believes the two parties never recovered from that point.

In 2020, Jones' age-31 season, he missed seven games due to injuries, particularly a hamstring ailment. But of notable concern to Blank was Jones' waning practice habits.

"Look, he gave us 10 great years. He's going to be a Hall of Fame player. He was a good teammate for all that period of time. (But) his ability or willingness to practice the way he did early in his career was different. There were some people who were in the building who had an effect on him. He wanted out, and the last thing coach (Arthur) Smith wants is a player who doesn't want to be here."

The Falcons traded the two-time All-Pro for a 2022 second-round draft pick and a swap of late 2023 picks.

- With h/t to Pro Football Talk