Maurice Jones-Drew Lashes Out as Disrespect Shown to the Jaguars
Running back (RB) Maurice Jones-Drew is the face of the Jacksonville Jaguars, which may have prompted him to speak out against something that has gotten under his skin.
Jones-Drew recently lashed out to the media that he feels constantly shows disrespect to the team and treats them as a joke.
"It's funny, the only time you see us on highlights is when it's somebody else's highlights. They go back to find that team against the Jaguars. It's crazy and it's real disrespectful. I've brought it up a bunch of times. It just adds fuel to the fire. NFL Network, ESPN, they all do it. Every time."
The Jaguars are not being taken serious this season as playoff contenders due to the team’s inconsistent, mediocre play in the last couple of years, combined with the fact that they’re in a tough AFC South division, with the Colts, Titans, and Texans as playoff contenders.
The Jaguars have also been known for their instability and their struggles with selling tickets and being blacked out by the NFL on many occasions due to their inability to sell out the stadium.
"Message received: Everybody thinks we're a joke," he said. "It just keeps us going through this hot camp, keep working hard. That's our motivation. We try to joke about it, but sometimes it's hard to joke."
The Jaguars are coming off a season in which they went in the opposite direction into December as the rest of their division. While it seemed like the South was finding ways to win, the Jaguars came into December at 7-4, only to fall apart, and finish 7-9 and miss the playoffs for a second consecutive year.
Jones-Drew says he and the team are now determined more than ever to change the perception of the team and show everyone who they really are.
"We've gotten better," he said. "... I feel like we're heading in the right direction, I feel like we're going to be a team that a lot of people will take notice of. I couldn't care less what people think. What they think is not going to determine the outcome of a game. It's what we think and what we feel and how we play -- fast, relentless, no mental mistakes, a smart team that's going to give you 100 percent.”
The Jaguars have 16 games to prove that they are more than what they are made out to be. This is a good display of passion by Jones-Drew, one of which the team will have to follow.
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