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If the Jacksonville Jaguars were the center of Jerry Maguire, then Maurice Jones-Drew had fans at hello.
Jones-Drew was drafted as the beloved Fred Taylor’s replacement and he never disappointed. In his first three seasons of his career, he complemented Taylor until the Jaguars eventually released Taylor in 2008. Since then, Jones-Drew has been outstanding by rushing for over 1300 yards a year as the starter.
Now, like Rod Tidwell proclaimed, Maurice Jones-Drew wants his team to “show him the money.”
However, Jones-Drew was already shown the money when he signed a 5 year, 30.95 million dollar contract. His team might be awful, but the last thing Jacksonville should do is extend his contract with two years left on his deal. Based on new owner Shad Khan’s comments, that isn’t happening either.
“There’s no decision here,” Khan said to the Florida-Time Union earlier in the week. “There are other people under contract in management, coaches. Does that mean if you do it for one, you do it for everybody?”
“Where do you draw the line?”
Khan’s comments were right on the money, just not the money for Jones-Drew. There is no reason that the Jaguars need to extend MJD’s contract with their franchise running back making 8.13 million this year.
Don’t give me that garbage of “he’s outperforming his contract” either. That’s what the contract, which made him one of the three highest-paid running backs in football at the time, was for. He was given an enormous contract to produce those types of numbers.
Just because Jacksonville has been a mediocre team since 2007 doesn’t mean that Shad Khan needs to panic because his star player is holding out. Other teams with similar situations would do the exact same. Take a look at Lance Briggs or Darrelle Revis, both players who wanted a new contract with two years left remaining.
Last year, the Bears were faced with potential Lance Briggs drama when he demanded to be traded if he didn’t receive a new contact. Instead of caving to his demands, the Bears rode it out and they agreed on an additional year extension through 2014.
For Revis, the contract situation is highly similar. Revis, who pondered about holding out before training camp this year, wanted a contract extension two years into his four year, 32 million guaranteed deal. The Jets held steady and instead of throwing a fit, Revis wisely reported to camp.
Instead of Jones-Drew following Revis’ route, the 27 year old running back chose to hold out. If MJD wants an extension, he should have waited to hold out after this season. I’m not for players holding out, although I get the “leverage” that goes into it. However by holding out this year, Jones-Drew has no leverage yet.
Jones-Drew risks himself at the same type of rust that Chris Johnson had the year before. Johnson’s holdout worked by becoming the highest paid running back in the league, but at least he was in the last year of his contract. Johnson’s play also suffered afterwards when he posted the worst stats of his career (1,047 yards on 262 carries with four TDs and three fumbles). Except this year, Jones-Drew won’t be getting that contract.
Perhaps the best case scenario for both parties involved is to trade Maurice Jones-Drew. If Jacksonville can get a team to sell the farm for their star running back, they’ll get multiple picks that could go a long way in rebuilding their team. For Jones-Drew, he’d most likely get a new contract as well.
Maybe this is what Jones-Drew wanted all along. Realizing that the Jaguars were going nowhere, he realized that if he played tough throughout training camp the team would have “no choice” but to deal him.
Maybe he thought he could take advantage of a new owner. Maybe he’s sick of Jacksonville. Maybe he just wants a new contract before he gets too close to 30.
Whatever the case is, don’t except Shad Khan telling Jones-Drew “you complete me” by offering a fat new contract.
At least for this year, anyway.
What do you think of Maurice Jones-Drew and the saga in Jacksonville? Let us know it the comments.
Questions and comments can be sent to Matt at [email protected] or reply in the comments section. You can follow him @Mparas1432.
# 17
elgreazy1 @ Aug 27
The man signed a contract and now he should have to live up to it. For people who will defend MJD and outperforming or it's not guaranteed, etc - tough ****? The Jaguars organization didn't fail MJD, but instead his agent failed him by not getting the contract right the first time and the NFLPA failed him by not fighting to change the landscape of how pro football contracts are created.
# 18
Meechyaboy @ Aug 28
If drew brees can make 40 mil this year I d like to think they can pay Mjd his due
# 19
spottieottiedop @ Aug 29
Im not a Jags fan, but I do know that they won 5 games on primarily the talents of MJD. What if Jax HAD a decent QB, they could be on the verge of the playoffs. He didn't complain when they threw away the season abd cut Garrard like 4 Weeks before the season started. Defenses played 8, probably nine in the box AND he led the league in rushing and he almost avg 5 yds a carry. Plus he catches the ball out of the backfield. All I know is this, if im trying to win I'm bringing in my All-Pro RB.
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Here is the thing about "the NFL is a business..." Yes, but not to most fans. When a star player holds out on your team, it's automatically personal for many people. I'm not saying the player is necessarily wrong or stupid...but it IS personal from the perspective of many fans. We associate more strongly with our favorite teams than our favorite players.
"Down the line this will be a problem. Other players know what MJD brings to the team. If they are treating him like that what will they do to me. That's what the players start to ask themselves. "
Take it with a grain of salt, but Pete Prisco is reporting that some Jaguars players want MJD fined once he reports to the team. They are probably thinking along the exact lines you lay out. I'm an average player...are they treating him like would treat me?
This is about credibility. The owner just took over this team, the last thing he wants to do is undermine his position from the get-go. I know everyone wants to point out that they could probably get more from him by just trading him and washing their hands of the whole affair.
But if you are the owner, is getting two mid-round picks really worth 1) undermining your credibility, 2) letting players know they can force a trade, 3) letting players know they DO have leverage
I think it would be very shortsighted thinking to make that trade. It takes a long time to build credibility and a very short time to ruin it. Khan (sounds like) he is willing to make a point here. He simply does not want to deal with the distraction and annoyance of having players constantly sign big extensions only to see them hold out midway through.