DAVIE, Fla. _ Dolphins safety Reshad Jones stood in a scrum of media this week, said he was happy to be practicing, his repaired shoulder is fine and he's excited for this season.
And that was that.
Whatever it was.
This conversational dust-up over Jones of the past several weeks was ritual nonsense. It missed the real issue of this simply being a bad marriage between Jones and the Dolphins, which you'll see in a few paragraphs.
First the overcooked news: Jones was the lone Dolphins player to skip the voluntary workouts _ repeat that, voluntary _ in April and May. He showed up for the mandatory workouts _ again, mandatory _ starting Tuesday.
So with the specter of a new regime, some media and fans debated his actions through the prism of sports selfishness, necessary learning, larger teamwork, developing culture and earning his good pay.
What a bunch of crapola.
Does anyone really think anything a nine-year, former Pro Bowl player like Jones did on a practice field in May will matter come September? Anyone? Anything?
Some of those pointing an accusatory finger at Jones skipping voluntary practices must forget Bill Parcells drawing a stupid line in the dirt on Jason Taylor over these offseason workouts.
Remember? Taylor was a year removed from being named NFL Defensive Player of the Year when Parcells entered town with a tin star on his shirt in 2008 and threw a hissy-fit over Taylor not running around in shorts and T-shirt in May.
"Got anything left?" was all Parcells said to Taylor the first time they met. It went downhill from there, until Taylor was traded to Washington in a bad move for both sides.
Fast forward to this offseason and the setup was the same. New regime. New defensive system. Big-name veteran staying away.
Give new coach Brian Flores credit for not making Jones a loud example of ... well, something, especially since Jones would be an easier example than Taylor. This gets into the bad marriage between them.
Jones is a lot of what the Dolphins don't want right now. He's old (31). He's expensive (two years, $23 million left on his deal). He's injured (both shoulder labrums have been rebuilt). He's proud (he refused to play last season rather than rotate).
Jones also is a freelancer in a disciplined system and a safety _ which is about the only stocked position on a teardown roster.
For that matter, the Dolphins are everything a veteran like Jones can't want. They're torn down. They can't win. They're looking down the timeline to winning in two or three years. Why put a ravaged body on the line for a team that can't win?
He's seen former veteran teammates Cameron Wake and Ryan Tannehill move to Tennessee. Robert Quinn was traded to the Cowboys. Ja'Wuan James signed with Denver.
The Dolphins would love to repeat a Tannehill trade here, if possible. They'd eat some contract, get a middling draft pick in return and call it a new day.
One problem was the glut of safeties on the free-agent market and others in the draft. Another big problem was Jones' shoulder injury. The massive problem: His contract.
This is Adam Gase's revenge. When the former Dolphins and current New York Jets coach grabbed power after his 2016 playoff season, he tossed wild money at several players, including Jones, who even then needed shoulder surgery.
That's why the team's on the hook for $10.4 million this year and $11.9 million next year. It's why Jones is still a Dolphin, while any other older or costly player has moved on as a new regime entered.
"I've seen it, and I've heard it, but I control what I control," Jones said of trade talk. "I'm in great shape. I'm still one of the best safeties in this league and whatever happens, happens. I control what I control. I'm here. I love this city. I love the fans. I'd love to be part of the Dolphins organization."
The Dolphins, too, have set the table in case Jones stays. Flores talked to the media before practice with Jones being the main topic, then gathered the media again to say Jones not practicing with the first team didn't mean anything.
Then again, it's just June. Nothing means anything just yet, except voluntary practices of May turned mandatory this week.
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