Jacksonville Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew’s unconditional return boosts O-line – NFL News
Jacksonville Jaguars’ running back Maurice Jones-Drew has ruled out the possibility of a negative outfall of his return to the team by ending his 38-day holdout in demand for a new deal unconditionally, saying he did what he felt was right for him and there
was no budging from either side.
Maurice after spending the entire offseason programme, mandatory minicamp and training camp on the sidelines in protest reported back to the team on Sunday morning and then went through conditioning test and other formalities including a brief chat with
his colleagues about the holdout.
He said of the situation:
"It really wasn't about budging. For me, it got to the point where I wasn't going to be traded. Obviously, they weren't going to pay me. I could have easily sat out until Week 10, come back and been a distraction. It wasn't about that. I'm not going to come
back and distract guys from playing the game the right way."
The RB also had a meeting with coach Mike Mularkey, who a day earlier was tipped off that the player had decided to return to the side minus deal. It was the first comprehensive meeting between the coach and player.
Jones-Drew while emphasising that he is now over with the protest issue and that he will not talk about it with his teammates, discarded an impression of a negativity surrounding his comeback, which has happened without acceptance of the deal demand.
He said:
"I'm in a good place. I did something I felt was right, and I'm always going to feel right. I'm not going to feel wrong for what I did it at all.”
There is no formal statement from the Jaguars since arrival of the running back at the headquarters. He nevertheless is welcomed back – an assurance always given by general manager Gene Smith, who at the same time had ruled out a possibility of giving him
new contract.
Jones-Drew’s return has strengthened the team’s offensive line once again. A couple of days earlier, amid very thin hopes of the RB’s return, the Jaguars had started weighing placement of a backup RB at his place, which is least likely to be considered in
the current scenario.
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