RB Maurice Jones-Drew deal demand from Jacksonville Jaguars genuine but difficult one – NFL News
Jacksonville Jaguars’ running back, Maurice Jones-Drew’s request to the team for renegotiation of his contractual terms is seen to be a genuine demand and if fulfilled will bring the player’s payout at par with more than a dozen players
at the RB position.
NFL.com’s analyst/writer, Brian McIntyre, in his Around the League analysis has mentioned the number of players in the league who are better paid than MJD to 15. He did not name them though.
Nevertheless, almost the entire group of the league pundits and commentators agree MJD is not paid as much as his counterparts with other teams are, and see the player’s demand of fresh and healthy terms a realistic one.
Jaguars, however, do not agree with them. They have repeatedly asked the player to honour the remaining two years on his previous contract, and in spite of the player’s frustration it looks very difficult for him to get a new deal.
He has already held himself out of the team’s offseason workout activity in protest of the compelling deal matter. It is likely he skips training camp but he should also consider the risk of $30,000 fine for each day he skips the training
camp.
A similar situation is faced by his teammate kicker, Josh Scobee, who is on a franchise tender. Luckily, he has been able initiate contacts with Jaguars managers recently and there is a hope now that he should expect a new contract some
time soon.
MJD is not that lucky and in the wake of a statement from general manager, Gene Smith, that he should first service the remaining tenure of his previous deal, there is a remote chance the RB should expect the team agreeing to fresh terms
with him.
He, at the same time, has very limited options. The main problem is that he has still two years left on his existing contract. He is set to earn $4.55 million this season, a bargain for the team.
Amid the scenario, Jaguars do not look in the mood of spending anything more than what they have already committed to him.
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