Three years later, Chandler Jones still plays with chip on shoulder from Patriots trade

Bill Belichick made an impression on Chandler Jones.

The Arizona Cardinals defensive end still lives in fear after the New England Patriots traded him in 2016 — even after three seasons and 41 sacks with Arizona.

“I feel like at any time I can be traded,” Jones told AZCardinals.com’s Kyle Odegard last Thursday. “It might sound bizarre to say, but I’m someone who has been in that situation. I’ve been traded before, and that little sense of rejection is a crappy feeling, honestly. That’s what drives me. That’s what motivates me. I never want to get traded again.”

The Patriots traded Jones to avoid giving him a second contract. He was one of the team’s best players in 2015 and logged 12.5 sacks, but New England dealt him for guard Jonathan Cooper and draft capital that became left guard Joe Thuney and wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell.

Jones has double-digit sacks every year he has been in Arizona, and he signed a five-year, $82.5 million extension in 2017.

“It’s not about getting double-digit sacks,” Jones said. “The big thing is just being consistent. Speaking from a coach’s perspective, you want a player that’s consistent. You want a player that you know what you’re going to get day in and day out, on and off the field. A lot of that gives credit to some of my numbers, and hopefully I can stay consistent.”