Maurice Jones-Drew’s holdout didn’t work last time when he was fresh off a league rushing title. He knows a deal won’t materialize on the heels of an injury-shortened 2012. Although he says he won’t holdout this year, he is hopeful for a new contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Read more after the jump.
“I went to them last year,” Jones-Drew said during an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio with NFL.com’s Adam Schein (via ESPN.com). “It didn’t work out. I’m not going to reach out to them because, you know, I just feel like I tried that last year (and) it didn’t work.”
Jones-Drew missed the final nine games of the regular season after suffering a foot injury that eventually led to surgery late last month. He finished with just 414 yards and one touchdown a season after leading the NFL with 1,606 rushing yards. He will be sidelined at least until May.
“If the Jaguars want to do a new deal, I’m more than open to talk,” he said. “I’m not going to say I don’t want to go there. I’ve grown up there, this is where I started. I want to win a championship there.”Jones-Drew has one year and $4.95 million remaining on the five-year, $30.95 million contract he signed with the Jaguars in 2009.
If he plays out his contract — now extremely likely — Jones-Drew will be 29 when he hits the open market as a free agent. Age 30 is no friend of the NFL running back in search of a hefty multiyear deal.
