MJD To End Holdout (See post 9)

[ThomasTomasz]

Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Gene Smith told the Florida Times-Union on Wednesday that he has no intentions of trading holdout running back Maurice Jones-Drew.

"Maurice is a Jaguar," Smith told the newspaper before the team's annual Kickoff Luncheon.

Asked if he'd consider dealing the 2011 NFL rushing leader, Smith said, "No."

Jones-Drew entered Day 35 of his holdout Wednesday. The star running back wants a new deal after leading the league with 1,606 yards rushing last season. He has two years remaining on a five-year, front-loaded contract worth $31 million. He is scheduled to make $4.45 million this season and $4.95 million in 2013.

Earlier this month, Jaguars owner Shad Khan said MJD's absence from training camp "doesn't even move the needle" in terms of stress. He reiterated his stance by saying, "This is not a team about one person," then telling Jones-Drew, "Train's leaving the station. Run, get on it."

The comments didn't sit well with the running back, and sources close to the situation told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter that Jones-Drew was open to being traded.

"Maurice wants to play for an organization that wants him and for an owner who respects him and values what he brings to a team -- on the field, in the locker room and in the community," his agent, Adisa Bakari, said.

Asked about his comments Wednesday by the Times-Union, Khan told the newspaper, "I want to be honest and truthful.

"I have absolutely no regrets."

Khan and Smith insist they have no plans to negotiate a new deal with MJD, not wanting to set a precedent of paying players with two years remaining on lucrative deals that included large signing bonuses.

Coming off a career year, Jones-Drew wants to be one of the NFL's highest-paid backs. His average salary per year ranks behind Minnesota's Adrian Peterson, Tennessee's Chris Johnson, Philadelphia's LeSean McCoy, Houston's Arian Foster, St. Louis' Steven Jackson, Carolina's DeAngelo Williams and Seattle's Marshawn Lynch.

Both sides have valid arguments.

Jones-Drew signed his deal in 2009, before rushing for at least 1,300 yards in three consecutive seasons. Not only has he seemingly outperformed his contract, MJD is the face of the franchise and probably the only player on the roster known outside small-market Jacksonville.

The Jaguars, meanwhile, paid him based on the expectation that he would flourish as a starter after spending the first three years of his career splitting carries with Fred Taylor. The team isn't enamored with paying a running back into his 30s, especially one who takes as many pounding hits as Jones-Drew does. Plus, the Jaguars have missed the playoffs in each of his three seasons as the starter.

Jones-Drew is entering his seventh season. He has 6,854 yards rushing, 2,473 yards receiving and 74 total touchdowns. He carried a career-high 343 times last season, averaging 4.7 yards even though defenses knew he was the focal point of Jacksonville's offense.

The Jaguars open the season Sept. 9 at Minnesota.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8...-no-plans-deal-maurice-jones-drew-says-report

 

[Ravin]

This is where I dislike football, and players having this ability to holdout till they get a new contract. You signed the deal, and you agreed to play by those terms, and now you want out of it, but are upset because the person who asked you to sign the contract is asking you to hold to it?

I also hate the normal comeback which is "they only play for so long, and only have so long to make money." The guy is going to make $9Million in the next two years. Anyone who doesn't go crazy buying million dollar cars and houses could easily live their life off that. And that isn't including the rest of the contract he got before it that he should be saving. Sorry to say, but that is the risk you take by signing longer term contracts. You are stuck to it. Plus when they retire around 35 years old, they can still work. Normal human beings work till their 65ish. And I don't get multi-million dollar deals for my job.

 

[JayDizzle]

If he sits for the year, I'm going to scream.

 

[Tailback U]

He'll sign eventually. No way he sits out the entire year.

 

[Leftwich]

If he sits for the year, I'm going to scream.

No you won't. He's gonna have a down year compared to last year. Rashad Jennings will do a fine job carrying the rock.

You should be screaming because we'll play a lot of close games this year and lose.

 

[JayDizzle]

No you won't. He's gonna have a down year compared to last year. Rashad Jennings will do a fine job carrying the rock.

You should be screaming because we'll play a lot of close games this year and lose.

I can't cry and scream at the same time.

It just looks awkward.

Also, I have nothing against Jennings... I'm just so used to MJD being there on the field that it's gonna suck if he sits on the bench and sulks LT-style as the team loses game after game.

 

[Leftwich]

I can't cry and scream at the same time.

It just looks awkward.

Also, I have nothing against Jennings... I'm just so used to MJD being there on the field that it's gonna suck if he sits on the bench and sulks LT-style as the team loses game after game.

We'll see

 

[Saluki]

I remember when the Bengals were never gonna trade Carson Palmer......

Sent from my HTC MyTouch4G using Tapatalk 2

 

[Leftwich]

Running back Maurice Jones-Drew, who held out from training camp in the hopes of getting a new contract, will report to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, a source familiar with the situation told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

The Jaguars did not give him a new contract, according to a source. It's possible they could waive the $1.2 million in fines he accrued during his absence, though that is unclear.

His holdout reached its 38th day Saturday, tying former receiver Jimmy Smith (2002) for the longest holdout in Jagaurs history.

The star running back wants a new deal after leading the league with 1,606 yards rushing last season. He has two years remaining on a five-year, front-loaded contract worth $31 million. He is scheduled to make $4.45 million this season and $4.95 million in 2013.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8...uars-rb-maurice-jones-drew-end-holdout-sunday

You know what, he didn't want a new contract, his lazy ass didn't wanna play in preseason and risk injury.

 

[1ke]

Am I wrong to hope Jax doesnt lift the fine?

 

[Obst]

Am I wrong to hope Jax doesnt lift the fine?

Nope. I hope he gets the same treatment that any other player would get if they did the same thing. He wants to punish the team, coaches and fans by not reporting and not learning a new playbook, then he should at least have to pay for it.

 

[1ke]

I always for the player tried to get new paper. But some scenarios make more sense than others imo. This was not one of them. Make his ass pay.

 

[packersfan4eva]

Nope. I hope he gets the same treatment that any other player would get if they did the same thing. He wants to punish the team, coaches and fans by not reporting and not learning a new playbook, then he should at least have to pay for it.

It seems like whenever a player holds out, his season ends up being worse than expected.

I hope he gets injured or runs for only 500 yards this season. If a player holds out to get more millions of dollars, he deserves a shitty season.

 

[EmpireWF]

You guys are some hardcore anti-players lol

 

[Maynard]

yeah i mean who was he punishing by not playing in the preseason? if anything, he did them a favor by not getting hurt during the pointless preseason. As far as learning the new playbook.....run left, run right, run up the middle...its not like rocket surgery like they all want you to think it is.

 

[Ravin]

You guys are some hardcore anti-players lol

I hate how everytime a player holds out, and fans hate on them, they are anti-player. I am pro-player, and them getting a fair deal, but I am also pro-contract in that if you signed something, you are agreeing to it. And lets be up front, in football, the 'man's sport', what kind of fucking man signs a deal, giving someone their word that they will play under those terms and then cries like a bitch because he wants more.

 

[Maynard]

probably the same kind of man who provides the contract then doesnt hold up there end by cutting the player after 2 years

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Hard for me to feel sorry for the players if they are cut, because even the guaranteed money off these deals is enough to live off for the rest of their lives if they manage it correctly.

If the Jags waive his fines, it will just encourage more hold-outs down the road.

 

[JayDizzle]

Now I wipe away tears of joy instead of utter despair and sadness...

Time to dance!

*For real though, I'm glad he's back. No vet wants to come to training camp, especially a guy who takes as many hits as MoJo.

He's gotta pay the fine IMO but now he can get his ass back to Practice and the Jags can get back to praying for a .500 season.

 

[Aso]

Wishing injury upon a player because he thought he deserved more money is just fucked up though.