After a 38-day holdout, Jacksonville Jaguars running back, Maurice Jones-Drew reported to his team. MJD was looking for more than the $4.45 million he is due this season, but the Jaguars and owner Shad Khan won that battle. By reporting to the team, Jones-Drew won’t have to pay over $1 million in holdout fines, but does have to forfeit his $50,000 reporting bonus.
With less than a week before the Jaguars open their 2012 season against the Minnesota Vikings, Maurice Jones-Drew will be in uniform, but he won’t be the starting running back. Head coach Mike Mularkey publicly stated that Rashard Jennings will be the Jaguars week 1 starting running back. The Jaguars practiced today, and so did MJD, who took between 10-15 reps during the session. Coach Mularkey said Jones-Drew will be the Jaguars third-down back to open the season.
While the holdout ending was good news for Jones-Drew owners, being implanted as a third-down back to open the season is a little disheartening. If you own MJD, don’t let the week 1 news of not starting, stress you out for too long. The Jaguars just want to make sure he’s in game form and week 1 will be the test. “His body has to get back in condition to taking hits,” said coach Mularkey.
My guess is the Jaguars struggle against the Vikings regardless of how many reps Maurice Jones-Drew gets. Nothing against Rashard Jennings, but MJD is the majority of the Jaguars offense and the whole front office knows that. Expect a decreased role in week 1, but if the Jaguars and coach Mularkey are smart, Jones-Drew will be right back atop the totem pole come week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts.
Michael J. Igyarto is a featured fantasy football columnist at Rant Sports
Follow Michael on twitter: @windycityiggy
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