Running back Maurice Jones-Drew and the Jacksonville Jaguars are at a stalemate with regard to the seven year pros contract situation and things don't look to be improving. Jones-Drew signed a $31 million dollar contract for five years, three years ago and he has two years and $9.4 million dollars left on his current deal.
General manager Gene Smith is unwilling to re-negotiate and as a result, the diminutive running back could possibly be fined by the team if he holds out of training camp to the tune of $30,000 per day and quite possibly, $60,000 for missing a three-day, mandatory mini-camp.
All of this puts pressure on second year quarterback Blaine Gabbert who is looking to have a much better year than he had as a rookie. ProFootball Weekly has more in how the stalemate between the organization and Jones-Drew affects Gabbert:
With neither side budging, we hear it is very likely Jones-Drew misses all of training camp and his status for Week One is very much up in the air. QB Blaine Gabbert is already in a pressure-packed situation trying to turn the page from a disastrous rookie season. The potential absence of Mojo from the offense increases the pressure on Gabbert exponentially.
For more on the Jags and the developing Maurice Jones-Drew holdout, head over toJacksonville Jaguars blog Big Cat Country.