The Jacksonville Jaguars could be getting star running back Maurice Jones-Drew back soon.
According to NFL rumors, Jones-Drew could be ready to end his so far 33-day holdout at some point this week before the Jaguars final preseason game at home against the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday.
Even if Jones-Drew were to report to the Jaguars today, he would not be able to participate in the team’s final preseason game due to new NFL rules that do not allow players to put pads on until four days after they report.
The Jaguars biggest concern with Jones-Drew missing almost all of the preseason is not with his conditioning, it is the time he missed learning new head coach Mike Mularkey‘s offense. Mularkey did not, however, rule out Jones-Drew participating in the regular season opener against the Minnesota Vikings if he was to report sometime this week.
If Jones-Drew were to report this week, it would be a complete 180 from his stance early last week that he would be open to a trade if the Jaguars were not going to give him the new contract he wants. Unfortunately for Jones-Drew, the Jaguars appear neither interested in giving him a new deal or giving him a trade. At this time it appears that his only options are to continue his holdout or report and play for the $4.5 million he is scheduled to make this season.
If Jones-Drew, who has two years remaining on his current deal, reports and has another strong season rushing the football, he may be able to talk the Jaguars into giving him a new contract next offseason.
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I hope Jacksonville trades him. Not only because I have Jennings on my roster lol but because players should not be able to negotiate a contract before their term is ended or else the Owner should be able to regress their pay significantly if they slump the season after (which the player would never agree too).. A contract is a contract and MJD should be traded if he is holding out.
Owners can however trade or cut a player at any given time. MJD outplayed his front loaded contract. Time to pay the man again.