Chris Jones addresses Raiders rumor with an emoji, sending Chiefs fans into a frenzy

Pete Grathoff
·3 min read
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If you’ve ever wondered why the NFL’s offseason is sometimes called the “silly season,” let me tell you about Chiefs fans freaking out about ... an emoji.

The road to some Chiefs fans fretting about a handshake emoji shared on X (formerly Twitter) began with “The NFL Report” podcast, which was released Monday.

Mike Garofolo of the NFL Network joined James Palmer and Steve Wyche and talked about defensive lineman Chris Jones, who is hoping to get a new contract from the Chiefs.

“Listen, he may stay in the AFC West, James,” Garafolo said.

Palmer and Wyche wanted more details on that nugget.

“Multiple teams in the AFC West need help on defensive line,” Garafolo said. “I’m just saying, the place where he played his last game as a Chief may be his first game with somebody. I don’t know. I’m just saying. ... I’m just trying to find a way to not allude that it’s the Raiders that I’m talking about.”

A Chiefs fan responded Tuesday to a story by A to Z Sports on X about Garafolo’s speculation, and wrote: “You do this and you’re dead to us @StoneColdJones.”

Jones responded with a handshake emoji.

What did that mean? Does Jones already have a handshake deal with the Chiefs? Or one with the Raiders (although technically they can’t talk with Jones’ agents until next week)? Or was Jones shaking hands goodbye?

The responses to Jones’ post were a mixture of gloom, befuddlement and anger with a heaping scoop of overly excited Raiders fans.

Here is what was being said, and most of it is silly.