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Jaguars Team Report

Yahoo! Sports - 3 hours, 54 minutes ago

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In his first public appearance June 10 since he was involved in an altercation at a local restaurant two weeks ago, Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew refused to offer any insight into the matter.

Jones-Drew continually dodged questions about the incident at the Conch House Restaurant in St. Augustine on May 26 in which he has been accused of throwing a punch at a bouncer at the establishment.

"It's an ongoing investigation and I've been advised not to talk about it," Jones-Drew told local media. "It's an unfortunate situation. Throughout my career, I've tried to stay out of the media in that light as a distraction to this team.

"I know the team has been busting their butt the last couple of weeks and I've been doing the same thing in Miami. I've had great communication with coach (Gus) Bradley and with (general manager) Dave (Caldwell) as well."

Jones-Drew wouldn't say if he has been contacted by the St. Augustine police department or if he has any plans to talk with them. He continually said, "It's a legal matter and I can't talk about it." He has not yet been charged with anything.

The police department indicated earlier that security footage had been turned over to them. Lawyers who represent the restaurant and Kasim Howard, the bouncer who was struck in the jaw, have said that "it's pretty clear that Jones-Drew sucker-punched him, knocked him to the ground and sent him to the hospital," and called it an "unprovoked attack."

"Mr. Jones-Drew's conduct was deplorable and certainly unbecoming a professional athlete," attorney Gregory Anderson told the Florida Times-Union. "The current attempt by some to characterize this as a 'scuffle' is misleading and unsupported by any evidence."

Anderson is also the attorney for Howard, 31. Anderson said Howard was "viciously attacked and severely injured" and made reference to a dislocated jaw and spinal injuries. The attorney said there is video evidence of Jones-Drew striking Howard.

"He got nailed in the cheek and his face is still swollen and there may be an issue with his neck," Patrick Canan, another attorney working the case, stated.

But Jones-Drew's agent, Adisa Bakari, said in an email to the Times-Union that Jones-Drew "was not involved in any verbal or physical altercation whatsoever."

When asked if he stood by what his attorney (Hank Coxe) and agent (Bakari) had stated previously, Jones-Drew again side-stepped answering.

"I can't speak on that, it's an ongoing investigation. Once it's done, it'll be done. Once it ends, everything will come out," he said.

Jones-Drew said he was disappointed that the incident has been such a distraction, not only to himself and the Jaguars but to his family.

"My kids go to school here and my wife is in town so they hear a bunch of the things, it's an unfortunate incident," he said. "This is a big distraction and I never wanted it to be that. I never wanted to be a distraction to this team period. I just wanted to help this team win games as best I could. I don't want to be a distraction anymore.

"I'm frustrated, yes, not necessarily because of what was said in the media, but because my kids were affected by it more than anything. My children have nothing to do with what went on or what was said."

Jones-Drew led the NFL in rushing in 2011 but missed all but six games in 2012 because of a foot injury. He also refused to say what he discussed with his coach and general manager.

"We've had great communication," he said. "I've talked more with Gus and Dave than any coach or general manager in the offseason than ever before, period. That's a positive. The trust that we've created through this situation is going to work better for everyone in the end."

Jones-Drew did indicate that he was making solid progress to be ready for the start of the Jaguars' training camp in July.

"I've lost a couple of pounds, I don't know how much," he said. "I've been able to run, did some full speed cutting on Thursday (June 6), pulled some 115-pound sleds on Friday (June 7) and ran a mile on the beach on (June 8) Saturday. Things are going in the right path. As long as things are going in the right direction, everything is going to be alright. I can't do anything (Tuesday, June 11), I'll have to be on the sidelines.

"My plan is to be ready for training camp. I don't know if I'll be on the field running full speed and making any cuts and movements that I have to do (the first day). I want to be ready to play ball. I don't know if I need preseason carries (to be able to carry the ball 25 times a game during the regular season). That's not up to me, that's up to the coaches. I'll be going back to Miami after minicamp. I ran this offense in college, same exact offense, a little different terminology. My goal is to come back in great shape."

Jones-Drew was a holdout at this time last year, not reporting until Sept. 3 in an effort to convince the Jaguars to extend a contract he believed had fallen far below market value. After reporting, the Lisfranc injury ultimately limited him to 86 carries for 414 yards and one rushing touchdown in 2012.

Under his third head coach and second general manager in three seasons, Jones-Drew isn't making any promises or predictions about what lies ahead.

"We're all uncertain," he said.

As Jaguars coach Gus Bradley finished his first offseason workouts as a head coach, he said the team made some progress, but overall concluded, "We're not there yet."

Jacksonville had 10 days of OTAs where all healthy and able bodies currently on the team's roster were participants in the voluntary workout sessions. During the mandatory minicamp everyone was in attendance except defensive end Jason Babin, who is in rehab following surgery a couple weeks ago.

Running back Maurice Jones-Drew was at each of the three days of workouts, but not as a participant as he continues to rehab after foot surgery in December.

After the final session, Bradley said he was pleased with what he saw, but that there was still work ahead for a team that went 2-14 a year ago.

"I think the whole body of work that we talked about, what we wanted to get accomplished with the attitude, the mentality coming off from our first minicamp that we had back in April until now and I think we established that," Bradley said.

"We're not there yet. The three most dangerous words in our building are 'we got it' and we ain't ever got it. We know we've got some work to do, but I'm very pleased with how much we've progressed and how far we've come along to this point."

While the rookies will be around for another week, all veterans are now off until the last week in July when the team reports back for training camp. With two of its top players—wide receiver Justin Blackmon and Jones-Drew—making headlines away from the playing field during the offseason, Bradley was asked what message he had for his players for the next six weeks while they're on their own.

"One of our rules of our team is to protect the team, and that's both on and off the field," he said. "Make decisions that not only affect yourself but our team. That rule, rule No. 1, is in effect. They understand the message and the importance of it, but it's a good opportunity for them to demonstrate it to us all."
As is often the case in most NFL camps, there was much attention and discussion regarding the team's quarterback situation. Bradley has not indicated who the starter will be between Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne. He gave both players equal opportunities with the first unit. Earlier in the week, he said a check of the number of reps for each quarterback was nearly identical, 212 to 210.

The Jaguars' coach said that the team would begin training camp in July without a declared starter at the quarterback position.

"I'd like to see them in pads and go through some training camp. We will feel it and know when it's right," Bradley said when asked for an ideal date to make the announcement of the starter. "I know that's going to be a big topic through all training camp - when are we going to make that decision? But I love the way it is right now, where the guys are competing.

"As far as leadership, I don't think it should affect their leadership. I don't think that you become a stronger leader now that you're No. 1. I think you can exhibit leadership whether you're working with the ones or the twos if that's your personality.

"My mindset for the quarterback is I want him to be the leader and I want him to compete, to compete play in and play out and demonstrate his belief. It's that simple."

Bradley said they could go into the team's last preseason game without announcing the starter.

"We hope not, but you just let it play out and play it by ear," he added.
After meeting with local media June 10 for the first time since he was involved in an altercation and has been accused by two attorneys of striking their client on the jaw with "an unprovoked punch," Maurice Jones-Drew met with coach Gus Bradley the next day and later addressed the team about the situation. Bradley said Jones-Drew asked him if he could talk to the entire team.

"He addressed the team and he did a nice job with it," said Bradley, who wouldn't discuss what Jones-Drew's message was to his teammates. "It goes back to as we said in the beginning with our players that we're all accountable to one another. That was just one of the phases that we had to deal with."

Quote To Note:

"My mindset for the quarterback is I want him to be the leader and I want him to compete, to compete play in and play out and demonstrate his belief. It's that simple."

—Jaguars coach Gus Bradley on what he's expecting from his starting quarterback this season.