Maurice Jones-Drew Apologizes to Jaguars Organization Following Accusation

Near the end of May, Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew was accused of punching a security guard in the face during an incident in a restaurant. On Monday night, he acknowledged the issue, and reportedly apologized to the Jaguars team.

Jacksonville head coach Gus Bradley informed the media of Jones-Drew’s address on Tuesday, and provided some details of the discussion. Bradley relayed Jones-Drew’s assurance of disappointment surrounding his “distraction” to the team, and in the process, apologized for bringing negative attention to the franchise.

Frankly, this sounds exactly like Maurice Jones-Drew, and the character that he has always portrayed. There was a general feeling of shock surrounding the allegations, and MJD has always been respected league-wide for his personality and leadership, as well as his top-notch play on the field.

While it is unclear what Jones-Drew will provide on the field in 2013 (he has an ongoing foot injury), there is no doubt that he is one of the most important players in Jaguars franchise history. For his career, Jones-Drew has rushed for 7,268 yards (at 4.6 yards per attempt), caught passes for additional 2,559 yards, and scored 74 combined touchdowns in just 7 seasons in the NFL.

The final verdict surrounding the violent accusations is still left up in the air, but all signs point to this apology “burying the hatchet” in Jacksonville. If Jones-Drew is healthy by the start of the regular season, I see no indication that he wouldn’t be the team’s featured back, and that is a great positive on the field for Jacksonville.