In Jacksonville, NFL Owner Versus NFL Player

The rookie owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars may be new to football, but he?s had enough business experience to be unfazed by Maurice Jones-Drew?s holdout.

Maurice Jones Drew is a great NFL running back. He runs powerfully, but with quickness and speed. He blocks on passing downs and he can catch the ball, turn and run downfield with the best of the league?s backs. But for weeks now, MJD ? as he?s known to most ? has been a no-show at the training camp of his team, the Jacksonville Jaguars. His absence is tied to the fact that he wants a new contract. But with two years left on his current deal, and with a big upfront bonus on his last one, the new owner of the Jaguars appears unwilling to relent.

Shahid Khan, who made his fortune in the auto parts business, has dealt with much more serious labor strife than this. He also has a very good backup running back in Rashad Jennings, so it appears very evident that the new owner of the team is not going to be the one to blink first in this staredown. Notes Khan, "He?s not here, and that?s his decision. Believe me, it?s not a great concern. You hope for the best, and you plan for the worst. Our goals for the season don?t change, and if he isn?t here, he isn?t here. I don?t control it. It?s his choice."

"I?ve been involved in many kinds of industrial business dealings," Khan said. "I?ve encountered strikes and violence. And if you don?t handle that, you?re not around to see them through." Khan added, "Believe me, on a zero-to-10 level of stress, this doesn?t even move the needle." It doesn?t hurt Khan?s case that Jones-Drew has already accumulated $600,000 in fines for missing camp, and if he doesn?t play this season he?ll miss out on a $4.4 million payout. On top of that, the team would likely go after a pro-rated share of his signing bonus, which comes out to roughly $3.5 million per season. Indeed, if anyone is likely to give in, it would appear that Jones-Drew has few options and will be the one to do so.

Source: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/in-jacksonville-nfl-owner-versus-nfl-player.html

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