Sep 9, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew (32) gains 4 yards past Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams (93) in the third quarter at the Metrodome. Vikings win 26-23. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL Rules Committee has proposed a new rule that limits ball carriers from lowering their heads to lead into contact.  It is a safety rule designed to limit the amount of stress and trauma that a player will get from knocking heads into other players.  As much as I value player safety, the proposed safety rule will alter the game in a profoundly negative way.  It removes the ability of a running back – physical wide receivers as well – to get low, lower their head and move through potential tacklers.

Players like Maurice Jones-Drew, Ray Rice, and Adrian Peterson are infamous for using their bodies to bully tacklers out of the way.  Shorter running backs like MJD and Rice, as quick as they are, are largely reliant on using their smaller, denser bodies to push through defenders.  Power running is an important part of the ground game and this move to limit lowering the head will further diminish the value of the running back.

Beyond diminishing the value of the running back, the proposed rule may not be as safe as intended.  While it will limit using the crown of the helmet, it may cause ball carriers to take more shots to the jaw.  I’m not the only one who thinks so too.  Emmitt Smith made his voice heard during an interview with 105.3 The Fan in Dallas saying, “If I’m a running back and I’m running into a linebacker, you’re telling me I have to keep my head up so he can take my chin off?  You’ve absolutely lost your mind.”

If the NFL is aiming to force more passing in the NFL, then rules like this would be the way to do it.  For those of us that love the way the game is played now and like a little splash of power running, this rule seems a little ridiculous.  As Smith also said, “I disagree with the rule altogether. It doesn’t make any sense for that position. It sounds like it’s been made up by people who have never played the game of football.”

Couldn’t agree more Emmitt.

- Luke N. Sims

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But he’s losing that audience.

When he shows up it won’t be to a team who welcomes him with open arms, it will be to a team that has moved past him.  A team that he will have to impress again in order to get back “in.”  According to reports, the players want him fined at least some amount of the ~$1 million he now owes the team from sitting out.

Even if the Jaguars start the season 1-5 and he’s still missing, I doubt that his presence will be the knight in shining armor that the season needs.  Maybe the team would win a couple more games, but who’s to say that wouldn’t occur with Rashad Jennings taking the majority of the carries?  MJD isn’t Emmitt Smith with the Cowboys.  He’ll need to prove his worth.

The best part is that the front office won’t even have to worry about it.

Whether it’s contract dispute MJD, holdout MJD, or trade MJD, the check against Jones-Drew is going to come from the fans and players more than it needs to come from the front office.  They can sit back and observe as his world generally falls apart around him.  And it’s his fault.

He’s keeping himself in check.  Removed.  Barred.  Held out.

When he returns, that’s just the way it’s going to be for a while. That’s fine with me and seems to be fine with most of the people who are a part of the Jaguars.

Some holdouts don’t go the way the player wants.  That’s definitely the case for Jones-Drew.  He’ll have to go back to the drawing board and start inching back in with the team before Blaine Gabbert, Jennings, Justin Blackmon, Daryl Smith, and Terrance Knighton steal the spotlight away from him.

- Luke N. Sims

Feel free to leave comments on here or visit us at Facebook or Twitter!

You can also find me on Twitter @LukeNSims

Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE

The NFL is a young man’s sport, a truth that is tough to swallow for players as they age through the league. Considering his body of work, the work put on his body as well as his age, MJD is in the prime of his career with over 1400 carries to his name. Starting as a complement to Fred Taylor, he has far surpassed expectations as a starter as he accounted for about half of the total offense in last years debacle of an offense.

MJD was rewarded for his feats in 2009 with a four year contract extension worth over $30 million, making him one of the highest paid backs of the time. Now in 2012, he is only the 9th highest paid back in base salary according to sportrac.com. His reaction to this was to forego team workouts and mandatory minicamp.

While Jones-Drew has two years left on his contract, it’s tough to argue why he wouldn’t hold out. New owner Shahid Khan, the new Jaguars owner, has made an “All In” campaign for his commitment to the Jags, as well as publicly stating his checkbook is open and he is willing to spend to the cap. If he is true to his word, the argument could be made to spend on the one player who has helped the Jaguars succeed the most. To compare, MJD is to the Jaguars as Drew Brees is to the Saints.

While I agree Jones-Drew is jumping the gun early in an apparent hold out, he has always worked out with former Jaguar and friend Fred Taylor during every offseason. Gene Smith has also made it clear that Jones-Drew should honor the two years left on his contract, which read in between the lines means he’s a year early on the holdout.

Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

While I don’t believe MJD is greedy, he should also consider his teammates as Tom Brady has in the past, taking a lower paying contract so the team can sign more weapons around him. Expiring contracts this season include, Terrance Knighton, Daryl Smith, Eben Britton, and Derek Cox, among others. While I don’t believe it would be a problem to sign back all these players plus draft picks for the following year, free agency could be a problem if the cap hit is raised significantly.

While it’s impossible to get into these players’ heads, it is more likely than not for MJD to show up during the preseason, even though he probably won’t take a snap until late if any. MJD is a player than prides himself as a great player and wants to be the best, with statements like beating Emmitt Smith’s rushing record this past season, as well as giving his fantasy owners something to cheer about.

- Antonio Furgiuele