Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew ended his 38-day holdout on Sunday.
Jacksonville's star running back was holding out in hopes of getting a new contract. Instead of a new deal, Jones-Drew amassed $1.2 million in fines during his absence.
Jones-Drew led the league with 1,606 yards rushing last season. He has two years left on a five-year contract worth $31 million. He is scheduled to make $4.45 million this season and $4.95 million in 2013.
"My stats suggest that I've been elite for the past three years and I just wanted to be compensated for it," Jones-Drew said at a news conference Sunday.
Jones-Drew said that he met with head coach Mike Mularkey on Sunday. He added that there are no hard feelings between the two.
The UCLA product also said that running backs have the toughest job on the field because they get hit every play. Thus, they should get paid.
Since the Jaguars placed Jones-Drew on the reserve/did not report list, they will receive a roster exemption now that he has reported.
The 27-year-old Jones-Drew, who is entering his seventh season, has rushed for 6,854 yards and 62 touchdowns in 93 career games for Jacksonville. He also has caught 278 passes for 2,473 yards and 10 scores.
Jaguars running back Rashad Jennings tweeted about Jones-Drew's return Sunday morning, writing, "Just shared some love with @Jones_Drew32 in the locker room. Glad to see you back - Let's work brah!"
And according to multiple reports, Jennings will start the season opener in Minnesota next Sunday.
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