MJD's new extension: $32 million for four years

Maurice Jones-Drew agreed Wednesday to a four-year extension that will make him one of the three highest paid running backs in football. According to a source, the Jacksonville Jaguars and Jones-Drew have agreed on a deal worth more than $8.2 million a year.

6 months ago AZBruin 11 comments 1 recs |

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Fred Taylor is gone

He’s the #1 guy. Get this man some blocking so he can get into the open field and the investment will be worth it.

by Tydides on Apr 15, 2009 9:26 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Congrats to MJD!!!!

by Nestor on Apr 15, 2009 4:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Maurice is the Man

I love to see a Bruin getting paid.

by apbruin on Apr 15, 2009 5:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I watched the video

and was honestly surprised to see the talking heads say that Maurice was worth every penny and then some. Of course we here at BN think so because we know how good he is as a player and more importantly as a person, but he was second-string and playing in a small market for the last two years so I didn’t expect WWL to have high praises for him. I totally expected them to look at his size and second-back status and say that the Jags were taking a huge risk on an “untested” player, but they pointed out all of the positives and even Clayton said that at this price he was a steal. It was very refreshing.

Congratulations to MJD. He deserves every penny, and it’s nice to see that there are still teams out there willing to reward hard work and good behavior.

by Sideout11 on Apr 15, 2009 6:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Second String?

Yes, technically MJD was a second string, but when it came down to goalline situations he was almost always the one punching the ball in, and he was incredible at it. He had 34 rushing touchdowns in his first three years, including 12 from this past year with an absolutely horrid offensive line…I really wouldn’t call that untested. His touchdown totals also don’t reveal how important he was in 3rd down situations. As much as I love Taylor, I am looking forward to see what MJD can do as the main back, especially once the offensive lines gets over their injury issues.
Taylor was still around last year, but it was very clear that the Jags were in motion to make MJD the new face of their franchise. I’m really not surprised at all how much praise he has received, he has earned every bit of it.
(And I also think people stopped questioning how much his size would be an issue after flattening Shawn Merriman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuANqQw_d4s )

by BruinDrums on Apr 15, 2009 8:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Slow Down Drums

I watch the Jags too. I know that he and Taylor are more like 1 and 1A, and while Taylor is in his twilight MJD is a rising star. I know that he is a great between the tackles runner with breakaway speed. I know that he KO’d Merriman. Obviously the Jags know this too, hence the large contract. And I certainly wasn’t calling him untested, hence the quotations. In case your rebuttal stems from only having read the first part, let me share with you my closing comment form above:

“He deserves every penny…”

My post was not a criticism of MJD but of WWL. Their analysts normally put their foot in their mouths when it comes to underrated team players players like MJD, so I was surprised to hear them get it right for once and sing his praises, all of which I already agreed with.

by Sideout11 on Apr 15, 2009 9:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My post actually wasn’t intended as criticism towards you, my apologies. I’m just saying I don’t think that the new deal is a surprising move. Most Jag fans opinions seem to state that MJD deserved an elite RB salary. Its true that he isn’t in the national spotlight, but I always thought that was more due to the lack of success of the Jags, and not MJD. Also, I didn’t post the link for you, but for anyone who hasn’t had the pleasure of seeing it.
Anyways, sorry again if you thought I was insulting your post. Reading my post now, I can definitely see how I came off like that. I just haven’t thought of MJD as a second string since his rookie year so I just wanted to bring up a couple of points describing why his new contract is reasonable.

by BruinDrums on Apr 16, 2009 12:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Its all good

Just got a little confused cuz it was a reply and not a new comment. Definitely a good explanation for those not familiar with MJD as to why he deserves the money (which I failed to mention in my post).

And I definitely agree that the lack of exposure has more to do with the Jags lack of success than MJD’s ability. I think he deserved an elite salary, but I’m not sure that he would have received it via free agency due to lack of name recognition (just look at that playing behind LT did for Turner and Sproles, who arguable are not as good as MJD). Glad the Jags see his true value

by Sideout11 on Apr 16, 2009 1:33 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs