Shad Khan: His Stance on the Maurice Jones-Drew Holdout Is the Right One

The train may be moving, but will Maurice Jones-Drew jump on board before the Jacksonville Jaguars decide to leave the NFL's 2011 leading rusher at the station or in another zip code?

After a statement made by Jaguars owner Shad Khan (via Gene Frenette of the Florida Times-Union), there have been numerous rumors about how the team and Jones-Drew — who has not been in Jacksonville since last season — will handle this situation, one that has now reached the national media and has been part of highlight packages on the NFL Network and ESPN.

This is probably not how Khan envisioned his first preseason as the team’s new owner.

Right now, all the back and forth between the team and player has created a firestorm of speculation that MJD will either be traded, holdout into the start of the regular season, or come to some understanding that he will be in camp and ready when the team opens the season at Minnesota.

Jones-Drew still has two years on his contract that pays him more than $9 million over that time. He is still among the top-10 paid running backs in the NFL and led the league with 1,606 yards last year on a 5-11 team.

On Tuesday, a Florida Times-Union article by Vito Stellino brought to light the possibility of trade rumors concerning the running back.

Stellino writes:

"

In the wake of comments by owner Shad Khan that he held a meeting with Jones-Drew and the holdout isn’t of great concern to him, it won’t be a surprise if Jones-Drew is still holding out when the regular season opens on Sept. 9 in Minnesota.

Khan followed up his previous remarks by saying Tuesday, “The train is leaving the station. Run. Get on it.”

"

Jones-Drew suddenly became the hot topic on radio and television nationally. His holdout has been the subject of great debate locally through television, radio and other media outlets. It would appear fans have gotten a little tired of his attitude toward the team and the “me before team” mantra he seems to be chanting in his talks throughout the summer months with media outlets.

Also, MJD has not met with new Jaguars head coach Mike Mularkey since he was named to the position after the 2011 season.

Khan talked with Jones-Drew and his agent, Adisa Bakari, but the Times-Union article stated those talks were “confidential” and when asked about whether the organization would seek to trade the star player, Khan declined comment.

The situation has also been one where it would appear the Jaguars have some leverage with Jones-Drew. First, fourth-year running back Rashad Jennings has proven through training camp to be more than capable of carrying the load from the starting tailback position.  

Second, the team has MJD under contract for the next two seasons at his current salary. If they so choose, they can franchise him after the 2013 season. It means Jones-Drew will be in a Jaguars uniform for the next three seasons at least.

Third, this is not about MJD controlling the situation. Shad Khan seems more than willing to let him sit or holdout because there are 52 other players who will start the season in Minnesota. He is moving forward with or without his star player.

Fourth, this is a team that would appear to be in a better situation with a better passing offense. Blaine Gabbert is much improved, the receivers are better from last season, and Mularkey’s offense is designed like the one he implemented in Atlanta, where Matt Ryan, Roddy White and Julio Jones thrived.

Fifth, the fans are fed up with this situation, like I stated. Radio programming has shown (on 1010XL in Jacksonville), there is a divide of fans and how they feel, but the majority stand behind the team and not the player.

Sixth, Khan is not stressed about this situation, stating he was ready to move forward regardless of Jones-Drew’s status.

“Believe me, on a zero-to-10 level of stress, this doesn’t even move the needle,” he said in the Times-Union piece.

And while Jones-Drew has recently stated in another article by Stellino in the Times-Union things will “work out” and that he knows "when it’s time to play, it’s time to play.”

Play, yes — but the damage may have already been done between player and team.