MJD might hold out (1 Viewer)

[ldizzle]

Just saw this on roto. On phone cant link. They said he might hold out minicamp and into the seasonETA

The Florida Times-Union reports Maurice Jones-Drew will not attend this week's mandatory minicamp, and that it's possible he'll hold out into the regular season.Jones-Drew can be fined up to $60,000 for skipping minicamp, but is ready to dig in as he seeks a new deal. MJD believes he's outplayed the five-year, $30.95 million pact he signed in 2009. GM Gene Smith said Monday the Jags have no intention of renegotiating. There's still plenty of time for MJD to be convinced to report to training camp, but if things continue down the path they're headed, a lengthy holdout is a distinct possibility. The fact that he's willing to sacrifice money says a lot. It's a serious problem for a team coming off a 5-11 season.

 

[gianmarco]

Who's the backup?

 

[nickdib]

Who's the backup?

Rashad Jennings probably

 

[scrumptrulescent]

Sucks for him, this is not the time or the era to be holding out as a RB. He's got 2 years left on his contract, Jacksonville is no threat to win the division, and he's already got quite a bit of wear and tear. Plus his peers aren't doing him any favors. Chris Johnson and Deangelo Williams don't look worth the money right now, Forte can't get his cash and Chicago just added M Bush. Adrian Peterson obliterated his leg to remind everyone it's a rough sport and RB's get beaten down.

MJD doesn't have much leverage but is maybe taking a stand because he'd have no shot at the end of his current contract since he'll be 29.

 

[lbouchard]

I think this lasts into the season. MJD seems set on holding out and the Jags seem set on not redoing his contract. Luckily, I have Rashad Jennings.

 

[meyerj31]

I don't see how MJD has any leverage here whatsoever. He's already making decent money, nothing like a rookie contract. The team is in shambles - not as if he's the one winning them every game. The knee has been an issue and he's a huge injury risk with those workloads. Other RBs have gotten the $ and not performed. I don't understand his bargaining position, other than the fact that he knows he's a huge injury risk and wants more money guaranteed to sacrifice his body for the team.

 

[meyerj31]

Also own Rashad Jennings in every league. He's shown great ability when given the chance - over 5 YPC career, and catches the ball well.

 

[lbouchard]

I don't see how MJD has any leverage here whatsoever. He's already making decent money, nothing like a rookie contract. The team is in shambles - not as if he's the one winning them every game. The knee has been an issue and he's a huge injury risk with those workloads. Other RBs have gotten the $ and not performed. I don't understand his bargaining position, other than the fact that he knows he's a huge injury risk and wants more money guaranteed to sacrifice his body for the team.

He is their entire offense, and he can probably use Gabbert as leverage. Without MJD and a ground game to take pressure off, this is probably worst offense in league (maybe 2nd to Miami). Gabbert would be screwed, and Jags want him to succeed

 

[Hoosier16]

I don't think he gives up the $275,000 a game.

 

[Addai's Adidas]

Should have done this a year ago. He'll get nothing and like it.

 

[FavreCo]

The team sucks bad. No way they spend more money on a guy that is nearing the end. He won't help them get to the playoffs. They aren't getting to the playoffs anytime soon.

 

[humpback]

He knows that he won't get another big contract if he waits until this one is finished, but he should also know that it wouldn't make sense for the team to give him a huge one now. He is their offense, but as good as he is they still aren't winning anything with him. Ideally they'd compromise and maybe add some incentives to his deal, but I don't know if either side would go for that. Could get ugly.

 

[bluesclues]

Rashad Jennings is a good back and will fill the void until MJD is back.

Regardless, I think they would have seen a 70/30 split on reps this year to keep MJD fresh.

 

[RUSF18]

Only way he gets a new deal is if he gets traded.

 

[benson_will_lead_the_way]

Love his talent

Love his heart

Love he chose number 32 because every team passed on him

Feel bad he won't get the money, but that's how the business works.

 

[fridayfrenzy]

Around this time every year you hear players intending to have a prolonged holdout and it is rare it happens. This will be news worthy if it actually affects training camp.

Players who miss a big chunk of training camp/preseason are usually a high risk player to get injured or not have a good year (i.e. Chris Johnson last year) but articles talking about how a player may hold out are about as valuable as a coach saying they will run the ball 60% of the time in the upcoming year.

 

[Faust]

Maurice Jones-Drew holdout could last into the season

By Gregg Rosenthal

Around The League editor

The Maurice Jones-Drew contract dispute mostly has slipped under the radar this offseason compared to guys like Drew Brees and Wes Welker. Among running backs, franchise players Ray Rice and Matt Forte have attracted more attention.

Jones-Drew's absence from his team could outlast them all. MJD's decision to skip the Jacksonville Jaguars' mandatory minicamp this week is a big statement. General manager Gene Smith made a very vocal and public hardline stance that Jones-Drew won't get a new contract. Mojo is willing to pay significant fines to make the team uncomfortable.

Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union reported Tuesday that it's possible that Jones-Drew will take his holdout into the season. We expect Brees and Rice to come to agreement fairly soon. Forte is a little trickier, but he should sign before Week 1.

Jones-Drew is quietly the player with the most potential to hurt his team. The Jaguars have made it clear publicly that they aren't willing to compromise. The Jaguars gave Jones-Drew a big five-year deal before he was a starter. That could make them "right" in this situation, but MJD has plenty of leverage because he's easily the best player on the Jaguars' offense.

"Every day you live your life with choices and decisions everything you do," coach Mike Mularkey said of MJD's absence. "When you wake up in the morning you can have a good day or a bad day. That's your choice. He's made his choice not to be here."

Unless Jones-Drew capitulates and accepts he won't get more money with two years left on his deal, this holdout threatens to last well into August and possibly September.