by Joey Farbo
NFL Writer

9 Rants

Matt Stamey-US PRESSWIRE

The Jacksonville Jaguars are ready to play the Minnesota Vikings in the season opener in one week, but their star running back Maurice Jones-Drew has still not ended his holdout.

However, there could be light at the end of the tunnel for this situation. If Jones-Drew wants to be active for the Jaguars in week one, then he needs to report by the end of the weekend and there are rumors that he might just do that.

New Jaguars head coach Mike Mularkey said he has heard the rumors of Jones-Drew reporting this weekend, but he hasn’t heard from his star rusher on whether he actually plans on reporting sometime soon.

To this point Jones-Drew’s holdout has now reached its 39th day and it remains unknown whether the Jaguars will go through with the fines that they are allowed to give him for missing the entire preseason. If the Jaguars were to fine him the maximum amount allowed he would lose $1.2 million of the $4.45 million he is scheduled to make in 2012.

If he fails to report this weekend he would jeopardize the first of seventeen $261,765 paychecks he would make this season. My guess is that while Jones-Drew was willing to holdout the entire preseason in search of a new contract, he is not willing to miss games that will cost him actual paychecks.

Despite Jones-Drew’s stance this entire offseason that he would like to receive a new contract, the Jaguars have held firm in their desire to see him play out the remaining two years left on a five-year, $31 million contract he signed before the 2009 season.

At this point the Jaguars have told Jones-Drew and his agent that he in not getting a new contract or being traded, so it appears his only option is to report to the Jaguars and play for his current deal.

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