Brian McIntyre gave us the lowdown Tuesday on the absence of Maurice Jones-Drew at the Jacksonville Jaguars' voluntary offseason workout program. MJD's seeking a contract extension, but the team isn't jumping at the chance to lock down last year's league-leading rusher.
A team spokesman told The Florida Times-Union there have been no talks about an extension for the 27-year-old back.
Jones-Drew has two years and $9.5 million remaining on the five-year, $31.35 million contract he inked in April 2009. He'll turn 29 before the start of the 2014 season. Today's front-office types aren't enthusiastic about making long-term commitments to runners approaching their 30th birthday. As productive as Jones-Drew has been -- 4,321 yards and 28 touchdowns on the ground since 2009 -- teams are thinking younger and they're leaning away from the featured-back role.
Whether the Jaguars were thrown off by Jones-Drew's absence, their position is clear: There are no talks, for now. It's a situation we'll continue to monitor out of Jacksonville.
