NFL Rumors: Maurice Jones-Drew's Routine Camp Absence Shouldn't Worry Jaguars

A number of star running backs are absent from OTAs this week.

Matt Forte is refusing to sign anything less than a long-term deal. Ray Rice is also looking for a long-term deal and is negotiating with the Ravens.

Maurice Jones-Drew, on the other hand, doesn't have the leverage of a holdout at his back like the other two all-purpose backs—there are still two years left on his current deal.

MoJo is often absent from voluntary camps and it has never bothered the Jags before, but he's also only ever played for Jack Del Rio.

Pete Prisco of CBS is reportedly hearing whispers that the NFL's reigning rushing champ wants a new deal. Prisco says that MoJo's current contract only makes him the eighth-highest paid rusher.

The heavily-relied upon running back has the seventh-most career touches among active players and led the league in touches last year, according to Pro Football Reference.

Those are hardly surprising stats if you've happened to watch a Jags game in recent years.

If money is an issue for MoJo, he has a bit of an argument considering his body of work and the fact that at 29 years old, the age he'll be when the contract runs out, he won't have a ton of negotiating leverage.

But that swings both ways, and the Jags aren't going to give him a massive long-term deal—especially if they continue to draft the way they have in recent years.

If this has any monetary root, then it is just the first jab from MoJo. He's often skipped voluntary workouts and does a phenomenal job of staying in shape on his own. 

Jacksonville should be a bit more concerned next year if he receives the same type of punishment and total touches in 2012.

The only way they can avoid that is by landing some new playmakers to help ease the burden off the running back's shoulders. That opportunity comes next Thursday with the start of the NFL draft, and you can bet new coach Mike Mularkey and GM Gene Smith are more focused on doing that than getting their star rusher into voluntary workouts.