The relationship between the Jaguars and holdout running back Maurice Jones-Drew is continuing to deteriorate.
It started with Jaguars owner Shad Khan saying today that the train is leaving the station and Jones-Drew better run and get on it. After that, word emerged that Jones-Drew isn’t expected to end his holdout even when the regular season starts.
And now Jones-Drew’s agent Adisa Bakari has told the Associated Press that Khan’s comments rubbed Jones-Drew the wrong way.
“Obviously, he’s not happy that what started as a very cordial and private conversation is now public and contentious,” Bakari said.
Khan has said repeatedly that he’s not interested in giving Jones-Drew a raise, and not worried about how long Jones-Drew’s holdout might last. Bakari indicated that Jones-Drew took those comments as disrespectful.
“Maurice wants to play for an organization that wants him and for an owner who respects him and values what he brings to a team -- on the field, in the locker room and in the community,” Bakari said.
It’s sounding more and more like Jones-Drew doesn’t think the Jaguars are that organization or that Khan is that owner. The problem is, Jones-Drew doesn’t have much leverage. Unless some other team blows Jacksonville away with a trade offer, the Jaguars seem ready to tell Jones-Drew that the only way he can continue his football career is to honor his contract.