Jones-Drew to visit Steelers

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/19/maurice-jones-drew-visiting-steelers-as-interest-builds/

Would you want him?

I think he'd be a great addition if he's willing to accept a backup role. Although on the downside of his career, he's still a viable starter, so I'm not sure it's a role he wants. If he signs, the one-two punch of Bell and Jones-Drew would be awesome.

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Jones-Drew to continue Pittsburgh visit on Thursday

Posted by Mike Florio

Free-agent running back Maurice Jones-Drew visited the Steelers on Wednesday.  According to Albert Breer of NFL Media, Jones-Drew will be back on Thursday.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/19/mjd-continuining-his-pittsburgh-visit-on-thursday/

This won't sit well with Bouchette ...

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Maurice Jones-Drew doesn’t add up for Steelers

By Ed Bouchette / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Steelers’ dalliance with Jacksonville free-agent halfback Maurice Jones-Drew on Wednesday was mystifying, from both ends.

Jones-Drew, who led the NFL in rushing with 1,606 yards in 2011, held out the entire spring and preseason in 2012, looking for a new contract from the Jaguars. His had two years to go. He did not report to the team until Sept. 2 and wound up having a terrible season — 414 yards. It wasn’t much better in 2013 when he gained 803 yards and averaged just 3.4 per carry.

Now he is a free agent, at age 28 and having played eight seasons with Jacksonville, which drafted him in the second round from UCLA in 2006.

Here is what Jones-Drew wants: Money, and a place to start. With the Steelers, he would get neither. They have their horse in Le’Veon Bell and are looking for someone to spell him, especially since they have no experienced halfbacks under contract behind him.

They also have little money to spend and a whole lot of things they must do with it.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2014/03/20/Maurice-Jones-Drew-doesn-t-add-up-for-Steelers/stories/201403200161#ixzz2wTSjFZy1

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Jones-Drew's visit with Steelers ends without a contract

Posted by Josh Alper

Running back Maurice Jones-Drew extended his stay in Pittsburgh for a second day in Thursday, but it appears there’s been no agreement on Jones-Drew sticking around for the 2014 season at this point.

Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Jones-Drew’s visit with the Steelers has concluded without a signed contract that would put Jones-Drew in the Pittsburgh backfield. It’s hardly impossible that an agreement could be reached in the future, but both sides will likely explore other options before that happens.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/03/20/mjd-visit-with-steelers-ends-without-a-contract/

I'd like to see Jones in the Steelers uniform. He's always been a thorn in our sides the way he runs through the pile.

I agree that he'd have to accept the back up role, but maybe, just maybe he'd like a chance at winning a championship versus getting paid more millions than he's worth. But I could also be wrong.

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Jones-Drew seeking $3.5 million a season

By Neal Coolong

It's fairly obvious why the Steelers and free agent running back Maurice Jones-Drew parted without agreeing on a contract.

What Jones-Drew wants is neither managable for the Steelers, nor is it at all reflective of what the market will currently bear.

Simply put, but he's insane if he thinks he's getting $3.5 million this season, or even up front. Not after a season that saw him average 3.4 yards a carry, and not when he's turning 29 this weekend.

Crazy how it's changed, but 29 is the new 30 for NFL running backs, when just a few years ago, 30 was the new 40. Still, that's the reality, and if MJD went to Pittsburgh seeking that kind of a contract, his agent isn't exactly informed. It lends more belief to the notion he was in town to do nothing more than generate some buzz with a team that is known to need a running back.

READ MORE: http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2014-steelers-free-agency/2014/3/21/5532832/maurice-jones-drew-free-agent-report-update-news-contract-steelers