Maurice Jones-Drew is not exactly in good standing with the Jacksonville Jaguars. First the running back decided to hold out of offseason workouts and there was the whole bar fight incident where the running back narrowly avoided being suspended by the league. The Jaguars have brought in a few new offensive weapons and Jones-Drew could be seeing his final season in Jacksonville if he fails to impress the team.
Jones-Drew is entering his final year of a four-year deal that will pay the running back over $7 million in the coming season. Jacksonville opted not to renegotiate a new deal, instead letting him play out his contract and possibly enter free agency in 2014. Jones-Drew's future was uncertain to begin with even before the hold out. The running back missed the last 10 games of the 2012 season due to a Lisfranc injury in his foot. While Jones-Drew says his foot is 100 percent healed, the Jaguars are right to be skeptical.
Jones-Drew certainly has some miles on him. His 954 rush attempts over the previous three seasons (2009-11) were the most in the NFL and at 28, age is not in his favor to get a nice extension. The Jaguars have a newly assigned "offensive weapon" in Denard Robinson that could be eventual replacement if the running back cannot find a return to form in 2013.
Jones-Drew did not earn any fans during his ill-advised holdout earlier in the offseason and no matter what kind of numbers he puts up in the upcoming season, Jacksonville might decide to move on all together. Owner Shad Khan noted that he was not stressed by Jones-Drew's holdout, simply saying that the team is not centered around one person and he can either get on the train or not.
So what happens if Jacksonville moves on with Robinson and not Jones-Drew? ESPN's Bill Williamson brings up the Oakland Raiders as a possible destination for the free-agent-to-be. Jones-Drew is originally from Oakland and has a history with offensive coordinator Greg Olson from his days with the Jaguars. Oakland has uncertainty at running back with Darren McFadden also entering free agency the same year. He put forth a disappointing 2012 and if he fails to bounce back and Jones-Drew does, the Raiders might look his way.
Jones-Drew to Oakland is far from a slam dunk. The 2013 will dictate his future, along with Darren McFadden's future. Jacksonville appears tired of the off-the-field issues regarding multiple players. It is certainly worth keeping a close eye on as the season progresses.
