Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores will be the first to say he has no issues with veteran safety Reshad Jones skipping the team’s voluntary organized team activities (OTAs) this month. Flores has been consistent with that messaging from the moment it was first apparent that Miami might have an issue with Jones moving forward.
“Reshad won’t be here. We’ve had a few conversations but I’m going to keep those between him and I,” said Flores yesterday. “Obviously all of this is voluntary so (I have) no issues.”
It is difficult to get a read on how this situation will play out. Flores himself has been quick to vouch for Jones, despite reports that Jones may want a trade out of Miami and his absence from the team at every turn thus far in 2019. There are some rumors that Jones may be on the chopping block regardless and that the Dolphins are aiming to trade Jones themselves.
If that is the case, circle June 1st on your calendars. On June 1st, Reshad Jones’ contract becomes significantly easier to trade — in part because the Dolphins can revert the remainder of his guaranteed money to the 2020 season. If Miami trades Jones after June 1st, they’ll incur a $4.045M penalty against the cap in 2019 and a $8.09M cap penalty in 2020 — while saving $13.115M against the cap in 2019.
If Miami tried to trade Jones now, they’d be on the hook all of that guaranteed money in the 2019 calendar year — meaning Miami would only save $5.025M.
The team has no financial urgency to make a trade happen before June 1st. After that? All bets are off.
