It?s the annual shuffle around the NFL. The Chicago Bears were mostly in the news for their additions in free agency this offseason, but that changed with Justin Jones? departure. Jones shared a one-word message in the wake of the news, accompanying it with a fitting gif.
?DT Justin Jones has agreed to terms with the Arizona Cardinals, per source,? NFL Network?s Peter Schrager reported in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on March 11. ?3 years, $30.1M, $19.75M Guaranteed.?
Ex-Bears DT Justin Jones Sends Message After Cashing In With Cardinals in Free Agency
The clip features North Carolina A&T Head Coach Sam Washington, whose team was paid $300,000 by FBS member Eastern Carolina for a game. Washington?s team won 28-23, prompting the coach to utter his now-famous words in celebration.
?One more thing,? Washington told his team in the locker room following that September 2018 contest,? tell them to bring me my money!?
Mood pic.twitter.com/u1YQ4S8nYh
— Justin M. Jones (@Twenty7Savage) March 12, 2024
Jones, 27, recorded a career-high 4.5 sacks last season, his sixth in the NFL.
He signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Bears in the 2022 offseason after four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Jones, who never missed a game in his brief Bears tenure, was also one of the most vocal leaders in the locker room, enduring the 3-14 season in 2022 as well as helping navigate a rocky start to 2023.
Justin Jones Wanted to Return to Bears
Jones made no bones about where he wanted to be in a conversation with Clocker Sports about his free agency.
?I know how the business works,? Jones told Clocker Sports in December. ?I’m not tripping either way. I would want to be here. I’d rather be here. I built a strong relationship with these guys in this locker room, I feel they look at me as a leader in here. I feel like I was one of the foundational pieces for this defense as well. If that’s how they see me then, obviously, they know who to call. But if not, it is what it is. I’ll move on, just like they gonna move on. So, it is what it is.
?I just don’t see why you wouldn?t want the defense, the whole defense to be together again. We top five now ain’t we? So, yeah, like I said I know how the business works. But I ain’t tripping. It is what it is. I love these guys, everybody in this locker room, man. We built a strong relationship. Even if I’m here or not, I’m still keeping in touch with every one of these guys.?
Bears Lose Locker Room Leader in Justin Jones to Free Agency
The Bears signed Jones after their agreement with Larry Ogunjobi fell through. And they essentially drafted his replacement last season, selecting defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. in the second round of the 2022 draft.
Jones was among Dexter?s biggest supporters in the locker room.
Now, Dexter and fellow 2023 draftee Zacch Pickens will need to step up, both on the field and in the locker room where Andrew Billings and versatile lineman DeMarcus Walker remain as pillars. The Bears could also look to add another 3-technique this offseason.