Cardinals' Chandler Jones confirms trade request, committed to playing his 'best' football

It was reported earlier this summer that Arizona Cardinals two-time First-Team All-Pro pass-rusher Chandler Jones requested a trade after he failed to land a new contract or an extension on his deal that expires at the end of the current season. Jones then reminded everyone of his value when he recorded an incredible five sacks in Arizona's Week 1 win over the Tennessee Titans this past Sunday. 

Per Josh Weinfuss of ESPN, Jones admitted Wednesday he had requested a trade but added he's not letting the situation distract him when he's on the field. 

"I'm just playing football, honestly," the 31-year-old explained. "I just let my agent take care of that -- the contract situation -- but it is the last year of my contract and I just let that take care of itself." 

Jones continued: "I think I played best when I don't go in thinking about the deal or the contract. Is it something that, I mean, [I think about] off the field? Yeah, I mean, of course. I don't know where I'm gonna live next year. But in the same situation, I think, when the season starts, I tell my agent let's put all that to a side, you take care of that.

"If you want to talk about it, you talk about it. As far as for me, I'm going to play, and I'm going to play my best football, and we'll see what happens then." 

According to Statmuse, Jones leads the NFL since his rookie year in 2012 with 102 career regular-season sacks. He had 19 quarterback takedowns in 2019 but appeared in only five games last season before a biceps injury prematurely ended his campaign.